Manga Review: Attack on Titan, Volume 16 Special Edition, by Hajime Isayama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: August 25, 2015

Volumes: 17+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 15. 17.

Goodreads Synopsis:

WHAT WAS HIS FATHER'S SIN?

Captured by Rod Reiss, the rightful king, Krista and Eren finally have their memories back. What exactly happened to Eren, and what was the crime his father committed? Meanwhile, the Survey Corps desperately hunts for Eren, while at the same time seeking to legitimize their military coup. As the situation inside the walls comes to a head, the mysteries of the world of the Titans seem on the cusp of being solved at last!

Review:

First of all, I love the special edition of this book. Not only does it actually come with the regular edition of the book (so I get the best of both worlds) with a dust jacket with the cover by Tony Moore, and with the deck of cards, but that comes inside a box! It’s so pretty! I thought it would be shrink-wrapped together, but it comes in a pretty box. I love it. I can’t wait for the next one.

Now, on to the actual book.

I can’t believe how violent this series has become. And I can’t believe I’m even thinking that. But the graphic violence, the torture that happens in this volume, is just gross and I’m too squeamish for this. Ugh.

Aside from that, we find out what Krista’s father really plans to do with the two of them. And even Erin is feeling sorry for himself enough to agree. And while Levi and Mikasa and the group are fighting to get to him, thankfully Krista does what needs to be done.

There’s a lot of memories mixed in here, Krista remembering things, Eren remembering things, and Krista’s father telling them of past events. And a lot of politics. And then the ending. Which, another cliffhanger.

This series is brutal. It’s intense and amazing. I love it, even if it surprises me and makes me uneasy at times. I love this special edition, and I can’t wait for the next one.

Teaser Tuesday[169]: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

-------------------------------------

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Poppy

Release Date: September 1, 2015

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

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they'll retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night will lead them to friends and family, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions.

Excerpt:

“When he set her down again, his eyes were shining, and he leaned in close. ‘I love you,’ he’d said, like a kid declaring his feelings for ice cream or bugs or the circus, full of wonder and delight.” (ARC, pg. 90)

What are you reading right now?

Manga Review: One-Punch Man, Volume 1, by ONE and Yusuke Murata

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A manga series that packs quite the punch!

Nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem—he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Every time a promising villain appears, he beats the snot out of ’em with one punch! Can Saitama finally find an opponent who can go toe-to-toe with him and give his life some meaning? Or is he doomed to a life of superpowered boredom?

Review:

Given the covers of this series—the very serious art and expressions—I was not expecting what is inside the book. I had been somewhat warned, but I didn’t expect more of a Dragon Ball parodical superhero comedy.

This series is about Saitama, a man who decides to become a superhero and save people instead of live his boring existence. Only he gets so good at it that he can defeat any enemy with one punch, and now he’s just as bored as he was before.

I did enjoy Saitama and his struggles. He just wants something to do with himself. His boring office job was just as boring as his current superhero gig. He’s even dreaming about monsters harder to fight than the ones he’s actually fighting, the poor guy. Finally he meets a robot, who attaches himself to Saitama because he’s looking for a master. At the end of the volume, it looks like Saitama has found an organization to entertain himself with.

I like the artwork; it’s simple and comedic for the right moments, joking with Saitama’s normal life and bored existence, and then more intense and serious for the fighting and his frustrations.

This was a fun volume, and I can see why so many people are excited for it.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR. Thank you so, so much!