Mount TBR 2021 discussion
Mt. Kilimanjaro (60 books)
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Lynn's level 60 2021 climb!
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Lynn
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Dec 31, 2020 05:04PM
I am going to do my best for this year and not miss it by one!
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Bev wrote: "Good luck and happy climbing!"Thank you!!
Today’s post is on Backstage Prince, Vol. 2 by Kanoko Sakurakouji. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the main characters in it. As it is the second volume in the series you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The story is told from the third person close of Akari. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- There's trouble brewing behind the kabuki curtain. Ryusei's dad doesn't want anything--or anyone!--distracting his son from his chosen profession. It's no secret that he disapproves of Ryusei's romance with Akari. Now he's determined to sabotage their relationship anyway he can!
Review- A very cute wrap up of a cute series. Akari and Ryusei are trying to make their relationship work with the normal shojo drama issues like disapproving parents and other people trying to steal them from each other. But of course we know that everything is going to work out. Neither Akari or Ryusei really change much over the course of the volume but that’s fine. What matters is that they will do anything to make their relationship work. If you are looking for a short, sweet series you need you try this one, it is was sweet, with likeable characters, and good art. I would recommend this series.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Skip Beat!, Vol. 19 by Yoshiki Nakamura. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Kyoko on it looking confident and awesome. As it is the 19th in the series you need to have read the first 18 volumes to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series and volume. The story is told from third person close of Kyoko and Ren. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Koo and Lory can't stop meddling in Kyoko's and Ren's lives. Because while Koo is impressed with Kyoko's talent, he knows that she will never be a great actress unless she can overcome her fatal weakness. And Lory knows that Ren's acting is likewise affected by his refusal to face his past. Can the two old-timers give their young protégés a much-needed kick in the pants, or will their plans blow up in their faces?!
Review- Kyoko and Koo are bonding over acting and Koo challenges Kyoko to think about why she does not want to take more bullying roles. She does that then her and Koo talk about how she can grow more. The real reason that Koo came to Japan is to get Ren to make a message for his mother, who hasn’t seen him in five years and is getting desperate to have anything from Ren. That’s most of this volume and that is good as we get character growth and development with both Kyoko and Ren. They are both facing challenges and they are going to overcome them and I can’t want to see it happen. I love this series so much it’s knot even funny.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Yona of the Dawn, vol. 14 by Mizuho Kusanagi. The cover has the four dragons on it and Yona on the back. It is 186 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the fourteenth volume in the series you need to have read the first thirteen. There is no foul language, no sex and no voilence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the different characters moving as the story does. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Yona’s travels take her to the Water Tribe territory, which is said to be the most beautiful area in the Kingdom of Kohka. But despite this region’s reputation, a drug known as “nadai” has spread throughout the land. When one of Yona’s friends becomes affected by nadai, how far will Yona go to help him?
Review- Yona and co. are continuing to see what is going on in the rest of Kohka and the water tribe has a real problem on its hands. In fact within hours Jaeha gets himself poisoned by the drugs that are destroying the town and the tribe itself. But the daughter of the head of the tribe is trying to stop the drugs and save her people. Together Yona and Lili are willing to work together to stop the drugs but Yona is attacked at the end of the volume by the villain of the week and is injured. But this is good to show how much Yona has grown from where she started to now she is fighting and winning in a sword battle. I love othis series so much and I can’t wait to see what happens in this next volume.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Something’s Wrong with Us, vol. 01 by Natsumi Ando. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover is red with the two main characters on it looking at each other intensely. The intended reader is someone who likes josei manga, mystery plots, and thrillers. There is very mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence. The story is told from third person close of the main character Nao. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Married to the Enemy
Nao has followed in her mother's footsteps to become a traditional Japanese sweets maker. Even at 21, her skills are unparalleled, landing her a spot at a world-class confectionary company. However, when she meets the young, handsome heir to the company, she recognizes Tsubaki: her first friend, and the same boy who framed her mother for murder over a decade ago. As the only witness to the crime, Nao seizes her chance to get close to him, but instead of finding answers, she falls deeper for Tsubaki's allure...
Review- This is an intense thriller manga about a murder, an innocent woman who died to protect the real killer and her daughter’s hunt for truth and revenge. Nao’s mother was a traditional Japanese sweets maker and worked for one of the biggest houses who make these sweets. When the son of the current head is murdered, Nao’s mother is blamed for the crime then she dies under mysterious conditions herself, leaving Nao alone in the world. Nao wants revenge but she doesn’t know how to start when Tsubaki proposes to her. He does this for many reasons but Nao sees her chance to get to the truth and maybe get revenge too. I cannot want to see what is going to happen next and discover who is responsible for the murders.
I give this volume a Four out of the Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 15 by Mizuho Kusanagi. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the fifteenth in the series you need to have read the first fourteen volumes to understand the story. The cover has Yona and Riri on it. The intended reader is someone who likes epic fantasy, shojo manga, and long running series. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There be Spoilers Ahead. From the back of the book- A drug known as “nadai” has spread throughout the Water Tribe territory, so Yona and Riri, the daughter of the Water Tribe chief, are determined to end this drug crisis. However, their task is an uphill battle, and they couldn’t have imagined the dangers that await them!
Review- The volume starts with Yona fighting to protect Riri and yourself from the man who controls the drug trade in Water lands. But she is still learning and is badly injured in her fight. Of course that is not going to stop Yona or her dragons. They are going to help the Water lands and stop this drug destroying more people. Su-Won is there too trying to understand what is going on in the Water lands and they run into each other but Yona and Su-Won are playing at being strangers to each other for the greater good. It will be interesting as the northern kingdom of Kai is coming and Hal doesn’t know about Su-Won yet. I love this series so much. I cannot wait for the next volume.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today's post is on Rasetsu, vol. 3 by Chika Shiomi. It is 208 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover is purple with Rasetsu and Yako on it. As it is the third in the series you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, ghost stories, and mild romance plots. The story is told from third person close of Rasetsu and Yako. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Being haunted by spirits seems to run in the family- this time, it’s Rasetsu’s mother who needs help! Can Rasetsu dispel the spirit successfully with her own personal family issues weighing her down?
Review- We get to see into Rasetsu’s life from before she was a ghost hunter and her mother is very different from her. Her mother is a good person but a little silly and that makes life harder for Rasetsu because she doesn’t know how to protect herself from evil spirits and has to rely on Rasetsu and friends for protection. But this volume doesn’t move the story forward. We don’t get any new information about the evil spirit that is going to come for Rasetsu and we don’t know what Yako is going to do about his life. It was a fine volume but I want the story to get moving a little faster, it makes me worried about the ending maybe being rushed. But so far this is still a good series and I am enjoying reading it.
I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Poison River: Legend of the Five Rings: A Daidoji Shin Mystery by Joshua Reynolds . It is 361 pages long and is published by Aconte Books. The cover is illustrated water color like drawing with Daidoji Shin and his bodyguard Kasami on it. The intended reader is someone is likes Asian inspired fantasy and murder mysteries. There is very mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is from third person close of the different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Daidoji Shin, unrepentant wastrel with a taste for scandal and dice, coasts through his role as Crane Clan’s trade envoy in the City of the Rich Frog. But when a case of poisoned rice threatens the brittle peace between the competing clans, the Imperial Governor drags Shin from his indolence and orders him to find the culprit. Despite himself, Shin uncovers an intriguing conspiracy involving more than just dead rats. A murder with no body and a missing actress present a distraction that could finally make Shin put in a full day’s work, and maybe even save the city from tearing itself apart.
Review- A wonderful, fun novel with a good mystery in the center. The world of the Legend of the Five Rings, is one that I am somewhat familiar with but the novels are a breath of fresh air for the setting. Daidoji Shin is of the Crane Clan but he is determined to be a shame to the family and his line. So he is living as lay-about do-nothing when he is pulled into the mess between the Lion and Unicorn clans. The city is on edge because the clans testing each other and the poisoned rice was the last straw. Shin is a fun main character, he is clever, witty, and despite himself good at this detection thing. His bodyguard, Kasami, is great. She knows that Shin could be a good Crane but his refusal to be useful in any way annoys her. Their Sherlock and Waston dynamic is so fun. The mystery was interesting and I did not understand the poisoner motives until the end. I can't wait to read the next volume in this series.
I give this novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my money.
Today’s post is on Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale, Vol. 1 by Chie Shimada. It is 200 pages long and published in Shojo Beat. The cover has three of the main characters on it. The intended reader is someone who likes over the top comedy and shojo manga. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character Hinako. There Be Spoilers Ahead. From the back of the book- Beautiful boy rebels using their fists to fall in love!
Hinako thought she didn't have any family, but on the day she starts high school, her twin brother Hikaru suddenly appears and tricks her into taking his place. But the new school Hinako attends in his stead is beyond unusual. Now she must fight her way to the top of Shishiku Academy, an all-boys school of delinquents!
Review- A funny but mildly annoying manga that I am not sure about. Hinako was abandoned by her family for unknown reasons. In fact she doesn’t know that she has any family until her twin brother kidnaps her and forces to pretend to be him in his all boys school which is basically Fight Club. So Hinako does this for some reason that I don’t understand. All she has to do is just tell the principal but is never seen and she can go back to her normal life. But then we would not have the manga or the game that this manga is based off of. It is only two volumes long so maybe I’ll like the second volume more but I don’t have much hope.
I give this manga a Three out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, Vol. 5 by Megumi Morino. It is 192 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Shizu smiling into the sunlight on it. As is the fifth in the series you need to have read the first four volumes in the series to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes intense, family dramas with some romance on the side. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The story is told from third person of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead. From the back of the book- TIES THAT BIND
Every moment spent with friends who care has gradually brought Shizu Karasawa out of her shell. So when her father plots to isolate her in a hospital, Tetsu has no choice but to take Shizu and run. With no place left to go, the two head to the beach where Tetsu's maternal grandfather runs a lodge. But Tetsu's rash decision dredges up a former tragedy that could tear his family apart, and even drive Shizu away… When the Karasawa family's fraught relationships catch up to her, a surprising enemy may become Shizu's most-needed advocate.
Review- This is a very emotional volume with Shizu and Tetsu trying to figure out what to do next. Shizu’s mother is trying to reach out to her daughter but she is afraid of something worse to Shizu. Then you add in Shizu’s father who only wants Shizu’s mother to be happy no matter the cost. Some of the family ties are explained and who one of the ghosts that helps Shizu is, that is the big reveal in this volume. Shizu and Tetsu are still unsure of themselves and each other but Shizu is getting stronger and the ghosts can possess her for shorter and shorter times. I think that Tetsu has something to do with that. I am looking forward to how this series is going to wrap up.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on The Night Parade of 100 Demons: A Legend of the Five Rings Novel by Marie Brennan. It is 330 including notes about the demons. It is published by Aconyte Books. The cover has a silhouette of a samurai, within the silhouette there are two figures at the base and a mountain in the distance. There is mild foul language, mild sexuality, and some violence in this novel. You do not need to have previous knowledge of the Legend of the Five Rings setting to understand the story. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters from chapter to chapter. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- A thrilling epic fantasy adventure in the astonishing realm of Legend of the Five Rings, as two rival clans join forces to investigate a lethal supernatural mystery
Chaos has broken out in the isolated Dragon Clan settlement of Seibo Mura. During the full moon, horrifying creatures rampage through the village, unleashing havoc and death. When the Dragon samurai Agasha no Isao Ryotora is sent to investigate, he faces even greater danger than expected. To save the village, he must confront his buried past – not to mention an unexpected Phoenix Clan visitor, Asako Sekken, who has his own secrets to hide. The quest to save Sebo Mura will take the two samurai into the depths of forgotten history and the shifting terrain of the Spirit Realms… and bring them face to face with an ancient, terrifying evil.
Review- A good novel set in the Legend of the Five Rings setting. Ryotora has been sent home to discover and deal with whatever is attacking the village. Asako is trying to discover why he is being haunted by a dog spirit that will not let him sleep during the nights of the full moon. Together they discover that there is something very special about this village and it’s important to save the village. This is the second novel in the Legend of the Five Rings new novels and I did enjoy this one but I liked the Daijoji Shin novel better. The story is interesting, the characters are good, and Marie Brennan is a fantastic writer. She did research into the world and it shows in the story and well detailed it is. It is almost a horror novel with the demons and the terrorizing they do to the humans. If you are a fan of Legend of the Five Rings or just want a fun fantasy, almost novel, then I would recommend this novel.
I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.
Today’s post is on Curse of Honor: A Legend of the Five Rings Novel by David Annandale. It is 331 pages long and is published by Aconyte Books. The cover has a silhouette of a samurai with a tower in the center and small figures at the base. There is mild foul language, no sex, and some violence. Even though this novel is set in the Legend of Five Rings world, you do not need to have played any of the games to enjoy this novel. The story is told from third person of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Striking Dawn Castle defends the mountains between the Rokugan empire and the demon-haunted Shadowlands. When a mythical city is discovered in the forbidding peaks, Hida Haru, heir and sore disappointment to his family, seizes the opportunity to prove himself. His rash expedition ends in disaster – just one samurai returns alive, and Haru is lost. Before a power struggle can break out, Striking Dawn’s battle-hardened commander, Ochiba, is dispatched to rescue Haru. She succeeds against supernatural horrors, but Haru is… changed. Now, mysterious deaths and ill fortune plague his family. Something evil is loose and must be stopped, at any cost.
Review- This is a great horror-fantasy novel in a setting that I really enjoy. My only complaint is with the blurb on the back. It makes you think that Ocihiba is the main character, she is not. But that is the blurb, not the novel’s fault. The real main character is Barako and she is a good main character. She is interesting, she adapts as the story goes on, and she is resolute to the end. I did figure out who the oni was early on but that is more to do with my experience as a reader than any fault on the writer or plot weakness. I hope that Annandale writes more in this setting. I really enjoyed this novel and I want to read more from him.
I give this novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.
Today’s post is on Takane & Hana, Vol. 3 by Yuki Shiwasu. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the third in the series you need to have read the first two volumes to understand what is going on. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The cover has Hana eating a tomato and Takane flailing in the background. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, comedy manga, and interesting characters. The story is told mostly from Hana’s perspective with some from Takane at times. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Hana’s scores on her proficiency test are dismal, and everyone around her, including her teacher, blames her new love life! Hana adamantly denies that to be the cause and vows to study hard to do better on her finals. But when Takane storms in to tutor her, will his help actually prove to be more of a distraction?
Review- More humor from these two idiots and I loved every minute of it. So we get lots of little stories in this volume from Hana having to study harder for her finals to Takane and his friend working out their issues. The humor has slowed down some in this volume as we are getting more character development moments in between the hilarity from Hana and Takane. They are learning more about each other and developing a strong friendship, in spite of how silly Takane can be. But he is growing from interacting with Hana, her family, and friends. I look forward to seeing where they are going next.
I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Prince Freya, Vol. 1 by Keiko Ishihara. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover shows the main character dressed as the prince. The intended reader is someone who likes historical fantasy, action, and an interesting lead character. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Freya thinks of herself as a simple village girl, but her idyllic life is shattered when she is caught up in a treacherous Sigurdian plot. She bears a striking resemblance to her country’s Prince Edvard, who lies dying from poison. Without its prince, Tyr will quickly be engulfed by violence. Now Freya must take Prince Edvard’s place and lead his valiant knights in defending the realm!
Review- A good first novel with lots of action and surprises. Freya looks like the prince of her country and he has been poisoned. That part of the story is not explained how but I hope it will be later. So Freya has to become the prince to lead the people in war against an invading empire from the north. So in spite of how unprepared Freya is for this, she does it. Not much on plot building in this first chapter but lots of learning about the characters, who is who and what is driving them. It ends with a cliffhanger but I am interested in seeing how this story will play out.
I give this manga a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Rasetsu, Vol. 4 by Chika Shiomi. It is 208 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the fourth in the series you need to have read the first three volumes to understand the plot. The cover has Rasetsu in the center with Yako and Kuru behind her. The intended reader is someone who likes urban fantasy, shojo manga, and romance. There is no foul language, no sex, and very mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Kuryu starts to realize that Rasetsu may have feelings for Yako--and he doesn't like it one bit. When Yako falls ill, will Kuryu help him or take this opportunity to weaken his love rival?
Review- Complications are all over this volume. Rasetsu is getting closer to the time when the demon is coming for her and we get to see him in this volume. The demon possesses one of her friends and there is nothing that stops him. Yako is getting an idea about the danger she is in. But Kuryu is getting more and more mysterious as the story goes on. He has feelings for Rasetsu but she didn’t know about them until the end of the volume. The danger feels like it is getting closer to Rasetsu but I’m wondering who is the real danger to her. I’m very curious about the story moving forward.
I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Skip Beat!, Vol. 20 by Yoshiki Nakamura. It is 192 pages long and is published by SHojo Beat. The cover has Kyoko being very cute making sweets for the party. As it is the twentieth volume in the series , you need to have read the first nineteen to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the mostly Kyoko. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- It's the season of giving in Tokyo, but Lory's granddaughter Maria is in no mood to celebrate. Kyoko, never one to sit out a challenge, finally gets Maria to admit what has her so soured on the holidays. It turns out December 24 is Maria's birthday--and the anniversary of her mother's death! Can Kyoko work a Christmas miracle and give this little girl a happy birthday?
Review- Maria, the little girl Kyoko made friends with in an earlier volume, is having a hard time as her birthday is coming. Kyoko, being the warm person she is, wants to help Maria handle her pain better. Of course there is more going on than meets the eye as it is Kyoko's birthday too. But the only one who knows is Ren and he gives her a gift. We get some character development but is more plot in this volume. It ends with a party for Kyoko starting and I hope that we see that in the next volume.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys. It is 362 pages long and is published by Tor. It is the first in her The Innsmouth Legacy. The cover is brown with a woman just off center facing the ocean with her back to the reader. There is mild foul language, implied sex and sexuality, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from first person close of Aphra. There Be Spoilers Ahead. From the dust jacket- After attacking Devil’s Reef in 1928, the U.S. government rounded up the people of Innsmouth and took them to the desert, far from their ocean, their Deep One ancestors, and their sleeping god Cthulhu. Only Aphra and Caleb Marsh survived the camps, and they emerged without a past or a future.
The government that stole Aphra's life now needs her help. FBI agent Ron Spector believes that Communist spies have stolen dangerous magical secrets from Miskatonic University, secrets that could turn the Cold War hot in an instant, and hasten the end of the human race.
Aphra must return to the ruins of her home, gather scraps of her stolen history, and assemble a new family to face the darkness of human nature.
Review- An excellent addition to the Cthulhu mythos. This story follows the people who are from Innsmouth, from Lovecraft’s story Shadow over Innsmouth, which is one of my favorites by him. In the current time of the book it is 1949 and Aphra has never gone back home but when an FBI agent she knows asks her for help, back to Innsmouth she goes. Emrys explores the world of the water people, old gods, and the Yith. There is a plot to use magic and ancient knowledge to do bad things but the real reason for the story is Aphra and her journey home. She has to make some very big decisions about her people and her future. Emrys does a wonderful job working with the lore of Innsmouth and creating new lore for her world and characters. I am curious about the second volume and where the story is going from here.
I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.
Today's post is on Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 16 by Mizuho Kusanagi. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Hak looking very scary. As it is the sixteenth in the series you need to have read the first fifteen volumes. There is no foul language, no sex, and some violence in this volume. The story is told from third person close of different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- A large fleet of ships from South Kai heads to Sensui at drug trafficker Hyo’s behest. Will Yona and her friends be able to thwart Hyo’s nefarious plans and stop these enemy forces? And what will happen to Yona when an infuriated Hyo attacks her?
Review- The water tribe gets attacked by the noble who is feeding the drug into the area. Riri has her father’s golden seal of the tribe and with the help from the dragons they stop the invasion. But the most important part is Hak’s rage at Su-Won and the fight that happens. We are reminded how strong Hak really is as it takes both Jaeha and Gija to stop him that allows Su-Won to escape. Hak and Yona have a heart to heart and are doing better at the end. But more serious plot stuff is going to happen with Su-Won and the tribal leaders going to war. I love this series.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Vol. 1 by Yu Tomofuji. It is 192 pages long and is published by Yen Press. The cover has the two main characters on it. There is no foul language, no sex, and very mild violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes fairy tale retellings. The story is told from third person close of Sariphi. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- The ferocious King of Beasts rules over his subjects- animal and man alike- with an iron paw. In a display of domination, he demands regular offerings from the humans… but there’s something amiss with the ninety-ninth sacrifice. Unlike her predecessors, Sariphi isn’t afraid of the king! Will her insolence lead to a gruemore end… or a new beginning?
Review- A great first volume in a series. Sariphi is the newest human sacrifice, the 99th one, and she is fine dying, she doesn’t fear the beasts or their King. But the King is more complicated than anyone else knows and he is hiding a big secret. This is a great way to start a story, lots of world building, interesting characters, and a big plot that is going to be great to see unfold.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale, Vol. 2 by Chie Shimada. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has three of the main characters on it. As it is the second volume in the duology you need to have read the first volume to understand some of the finer points of the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and comic violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character Hinako. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Hinako takes her twin brother Hikaru’s place at Shishiku Academy for boys. Fights break out every day, but there are also lots of heart-palpitating events with the boys that she never expected! And as the battle to be the boss of the school rages on, will Hikaru make it to the top?
Review- A very unsatisfying ending to a mediocre duology. Hinako is still just doing what her brother wants to her without any consideration for Hinako and what she wants for her life. None of the other boys learn that she is a girl so more comedic gay panic but I was very underwhelmed with this series. I wanted Hinako to challenge her brother, to make her life and her choices without being bullied, like she has been for her whole life. We never learn why she was abandoned by her family and we have no idea what will happen to her in the future. Very disappointed in this manga series, which is too bad because I love Otome games.
I give this volume a Three out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Kiss Him, Not Me!, Vol. 3 by Junko. It is 160 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has all the main characters on it. As it is the third in the series you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The intended reader is someone who likes humorous stories that play with tropes from otome games and shojo manga/anime. The story is told from third person close of mostly Kae. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Hi! it's Kae here! Recently, I made a new friend. Her name is Shima and she's the most handsome girl I've ever met in my life!
…And guess what else? She also happens to be one of my favorite doujin authors ever! I mean, how much cooler can you get?!
But it doesn't stop there—she invited me over to her house and the most unbelievable thing happened!!
It looks like the boys have some tough competition. Let’s see if they can keep up…
Review- In this volume we get some great character growth from some of the boys with Kae regaining her weight and the boys having to think about what about Kae they were attracted to in the beginning. I do wish that Kae’s weight issues but this is a comedy manga and having the characters think about what they are attracted to someone is a big deal, so I’m willing to let it go. Kae doesn’t get much character development in this volume but it is more about the boys than Kae. Still an enjoyable volume and I am looking forward to the next volume.
I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Daytime Shooting Star, Vol. 4 by Mika Yamamori. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Suzume on it looking at the reader. As it is the fourth in the series you need to have read the first three volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga and coming of age stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence this manga. The story is told from third person close of Suzume. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Suzume has moved to Tokyo and is living with her uncle. She is trying to get over Mr. Shishio, but they unexpectedly end up going to an aquarium together. Suzume enjoys herself, but Mr. Shishio’s confusing attitude puzzles her.
Review- The plot is really starting to build. Suzume is trying to get over her feelings for Mr. Shishio but now he is becoming interested in her. So he is trying to discover if they could have a relationship and it is confusing Suzume and makes me, the reader, very nervous for her. He is an older man who has more than one serious relationship under his belt and Suzume has never been interested in someone before. I know that part of the story is Suzume learning from this and becoming an adult but it is difficult to watch a young girl struggle with these hard issues. But I am with Suzume as she goes through this story and I am curious about what is going to happen next.
I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Frau Faust, Vol. 1 by Kore Yamazaki. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Faust and her demon on it. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes retelling of classic stories. The story is told from third person close of Marion. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- More than a century after an eccentric scholar made an infamous deal with a devil, the story of Faust has passed into legend. However, the true Faust is not the stuffy, professorial man known in fairy tales, but a charismatic, bespectacled woman named Johanna Faust, who happens to still be alive. Searching for pieces of her long-lost demon, Johanna passes through a provincial town, where she saves a young boy named Marion from a criminal’s fate. In exchange, she asks a simple favor of Marion, but Marion soon finds himself intrigued by the peculiar Doctor Faust and joins her on her journey. Thus begins the strange and wonderful adventures of Frau Faust!
Review- An interesting first volume in a retelling of a classic myth. Marion knows the story about Faust or at least the story that the church wants known. Of course the truth is more complicated. Marion wants to learn from Faust and he goes with her. Most of this volume is about plot and world development. Marion learns about the real Johanna Faust, the real deal she made, and about the people who are hunting but not why yet. The last story is a short story about a girl who finds a museum for invisible things. I really enjoyed that and I hope that Yamazaki does more with that story later. A solid first volume and I look forward to seeing where Johanna and Marion are going.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, Vol. 6 by Megumi Morino. It is 200 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Shizu and Tetsu on it looking happy. As it is the sixth in the series, you need to have read the first five volumes for you to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The story is told from third person close of the characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- SWEET DREAMS
After a hectic summer, Shizu and her mother welcome a calm autumn in their home. Every day, Shizu grows more certain of herself, but after meeting the living daughter of one of her ghosts, she realizes it all comes at a price. The spirits within her know they are existing on borrowed time, and no one is more worried than Shizu. As a newfound loneliness creeps into her heart, she finds out the hard way that there is plenty to gain in letting go…
Review- This was a moving and excellent final volume. Shizu has been getting better with others and more comfortable with herself so that means something is changing in her heart. Her ghost friends know that means she will not be a host for them anymore and they want her to be able to accept this move on with her new life. Of course she has to mourn them because they were her friends when she had no one else. It was a very moving volume dealing with grief, changes in life, and letting go. The ending is very hopeful about Testsu’s mother. I really enjoyed this manga, I would recommend it, and I would read another series by this author.
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
Today’s post is on Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, Vol. 3 by Rin Mikimoto. It is 192 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Hinana on it looking very cute. As it is the third in the series you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo romance, Cinderella-like stories, and humorous manga. The story is told from third person close of different characters moving as the story does. There Be Spoilers Ahead.From the back of the book- Tangled up
As summer vacation nears, Hinana finds herself free of her usual babysitting responsibilities. But her best friends are busy with band practice and part-time work, so she’s finished all her summer assignments in just three days! With time to spare Hinana visit Kaede, and they make a promise that will bring them closer. Before the young couple can rejoice, vindictive friends from Kaede’s past return, and their grand scheme is to take what is most precious from the prince…
Review- We get some plot development in this volume with meeting some of Kaede’s old group members. They are very angry at Kaede for leaving the group but we, the readers, still don't know why he did leave the group. So to get back at him, one of them, Mitsuki, wants to mess with Hinana. Hiana is clueless about it but Kaede isn’t. I hope that plot point doesn’t last too long as I don’t like abusive story lines and Mitsuki, shown to be a self-centered idiot, would do that to hurt Kaede and not understand why what he did was wrong. But the volume ends with Hinana knowing more about Kaede and maybe will be more on her guard around his old group. I am curious about where the story is going next.
I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
