Manga Review: No. 6, Volume 5, by Atsuko Asano and Hinoki Kino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: February 2014

Volumes: 9

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

“THE MANHUNT IS HERE!”

The rumors were true! Armored vehicles from No. 6 roar through the gate into West Block, massacring the helpless and arresting everyone else. Amid the chaos, Shion and Rat realize this could be their only chance to get into the Correctional Facility and save Safu. But when they do make it inside, what they find is worse than anyone could have imagined...

PRAISE FOR THE ANIME

“Sadly beautiful in places, hauntingly violent in others, No. 6 [is] worth your time.” – Anime News Network

“No. 6 is science fiction the way it’s meant to be – boundary pushing… and completely spellbinding.” —Inside AX

Review:

Things are getting more intense as the series goes on.

The manhunt, a horrible thing the government does to the people in the West Block, happens. And so Rat and Shion get transported somewhere new. Shion struggles with the horror of it and having to move forward, wanting to go back to how things were. But he wants to be there for Rat, and he wants to save Safu, and he promised Dogkeeper he’d be back.

Shion is a sweetheart, and it’s hard seeing him struggle like this. The cliffhanger makes me really scared, both for him and for what he’s doing.

I love Dogkeeper. She tries so hard to be tough, but the way she gives in for Shion’s sake is nice. I just want to know more about her. She’s separated from Rat and Shion at this point, but I hope we get to see more of her in the next volume.

A lot is happening, and the main plot is moving forward at a very steady pace. Shion is learning to deal with the horrors of what No. 6 is doing, and I like that he acknowledges that he doesn’t want to get used to it, or become cynical of it. I’m looking forward to reading more.

Teaser Tuesday[131]: Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle, #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle, #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: October 21, 2014

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.

Excerpt:

“‘You don’t have to look so smug,’ Gansey said to Blue as she buckled her seat belt.

‘Sure I do,’ Blue replied.” (Hardback, pg. 108)

What are you reading right now?

Manga Review: Sherlock Bones, Volume 1, by Yuma Ando and Yuki Sato

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: September 2013

Volumes: 7

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

DEDUCTIVE DOG DETECTIVE

When Takeru adopts his new pet, he's in for a surprise—the dog is none other than the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective. What's more, this "Sherdog" has decided that Takeru is the reincarnation of his long-time assistant, Dr. Watson. Takeru may think Sherdog (or he himself) is crazy, but with no one else able to communicate with Holmes, he's roped into becoming the canine's assistant all the same. Using his exceptional sleuthing skills, Holmes uncovers clues to solve the trickiest crimes.

Review:

When I found out that this series was only seven volumes long, I jumped on board. I’d been feeling the need to read a manga mystery, and maybe that’s just cause it’s been so long since I watched Case Closed (or Detective Conan). Which means that, invariably, I will be comparing this to Case Closed. But I just love that series, and it’s one of the only manga mysteries I’ve read/watched.

This sounded like a cute series, a new take on Sherlock Holmes. And the artwork is very pretty, which is always a grab for me.

It is a cute series, what with Sherlock reincarnated as a dog and talking only to Watson, now known as Takeru, a boy in high school. We get a mystery pretty early on, which goes through the whole volume. It’s a bit dark, and the artstyle changes to construe the psychotic urges form the murderer, and it’s also emotional for Takeru. There’s a hint of romance, and I do hope that grows throughout the series.

This was a very good first volume. The mystery was good, if a little obvious from the beginning, but overall pretty impressive. I look forward to reading more.

Manga Review: Itazura Na Kiss, Volume 2, by Kaoru Tada

Rating (Out of 5): ~1-1.5

Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing/DMP

Release Date: 2010

Volumes: 23

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Passing the college entrance exam, Kotoko is accepted into the same college as Naoki, and their first semester had just begun. She's excited and looks forward to spending more time with Naoki - or, so she thought Now she has competition She's tall, beautiful, smart, and good at sports... she's practically perfect Is Kotoko ready to take on a nemesis?

Review:

I’m struggling with the decision to quit this series.

I really don’t like it. The characters are weak and one-dimensional and annoying and I don’t like any of them—not a one. The story isn’t any better. The artwork is extremely weak, and I don’t care for looking at it.

I don’t want to read anymore. But I already own the next four volumes, so I feel like I have to. But I think I might just sell them and get it over with. It’s ridiculous how long I’ve been putting it off already (reading it, that is) (like two years).

But there are no remarkable traits in Kotoko. She’s weak and annoying, falling for Irie for no reason at all, no matter how much of a jerk he is. I don’t care for Irie at all, and don’t see why anyone else does, either. He’s a jerk, hides it not at all, and has done nothing nice for Kotoko to earn her affection. And then his mom keeps pushing them together, practically forcing them to get married.

And now they’re all in college, which would seem great, only nothing at all has changed. They still go to school like in high school, hang out with the same people, and Kotoko is still in the bottom class. It’s ridiculous.

This series has no redeeming qualities for me, and I really want to quit it. There’s no reason for me not to, really.

Manga Review: Happy Marriage?!, Volume 8, by Maki Enjoji

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In order to help her father, Chiwa Takanashi agrees to an arranged marriage with the company president, Hokuto Mamiya—a man she doesn’t know—at the request of Hokuto’s grandfather. Chiwa believes the arrangement isn’t binding, but her new partner seems to think otherwise. Can two strangers living together find their way to a happy marriage?!

Hokuto resigns from Mamiya Commerce and takes on a failing company, risking everything to become heir in one year. Chiwa and Hokuto are closer than ever, so why is he saying they can’t be a true married couple?

Review:

Chiwa is still learning her place with Hokuto. She doesn’t want to impose on him, she wants to be a good wife, and she wants him to appreciate and understand her. All perfectly understandable things. Meanwhile, Hokuto is still learning how much he loves Chiwa, and what he’s willing to do to make her happy.

I don’t think I have too much to say about this volume—it was very enjoyable, and I am still loving this series. There is a bit of similar drama in each volume, but it’s still very enjoyable. They exaggerate, they fight, they make-up. I enjoy how long they hold out, and then how they both apologize and want to make things better in the future.

There is some underlining stuff happening, too. The stuff in Hokuto’s past is coming up more often, and with what happened in the last chapter, it’s clear that we’re going to find out what it is soon.

Overall, a very enjoyable series so far. I’m loving the marriage drama, and the making up. I’m excited to read the next volume.