Manga Review: RustBlaster by Yana Toboso

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: August 2015

Volumes: 1

Spoilers?: No.

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

At Millennium Academy, elite vampires are trained to maintain balance in a world where humans and vampires, who possess far greater physical strength than their human neighbors, coexist. When Aldred, the most distinctly un-vampire-like vampire to be found in the entire institution, meets Kei, a human transfer student to the school, their destinies become surprisingly intertwined, and the fate of the world as they know it comes to lie in their hands. Will the unlikely duo be able to break the vicious cycle of blood and chaos that comes every millennium on the ominous night of the Twin Moons? 

Review:

This is clearly an earlier work of Toboso, as the quality is very inexperienced.

The whole volume is about a vampire school, and a close group of friends that are trying to deal with the attack on them. Aldred finds out he’s the chosen one to wield Kei, a human chosen to turn into a sword for him.

Honestly, the plot didn’t really interest me. The characterization wasn’t very good. The art is an earlier style, unlike her newer stuff. There’s an interesting group of characters, but I didn’t grow very close to them. It has a happy ending, so that was nice.

It just didn’t pull me in like I wanted. An interesting book, especially if you like Toboso, but otherwise just meh.

Manga Review: Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Volume 23, by Karuho Shiina

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 5, 2016

Volumes: 25+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 22. 24.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sawako Kuronuma is the perfect heroine...for a horror movie. Nicknamed "Sadako" after the haunting movie character, everyone is afraid to come near her for fear of being cursed. But her whole life changes when she befriends the most popular boy in class, Shota Kazehaya.

Review:

This volume has been a while coming, even if it was terrible.

Pretty much this entire volume was focused on Yano and Kento’s relationship. And even though it needed to happen, and everyone knows it was coming, I won’t say too much. I won’t spoil it all.

I will say that I found myself relating to Yano a lot here. She doesn’t see herself in a very good light, and what’s happening with her and Kento is hard. She wanted it to work, but it’s just not. Her whole thought process on it actually hit a pretty soft spot for me, and it was a little hard to read at times.

But it’s good that it happened, and now they can do what they need to. Yano can do what she needs to do for herself, find herself freely now. I also like Pin’s part in her story, though I will admit to hoping he starts playing a bigger part at some point. I like how he pushes her and how he sees her.

Now the next story must be for Kazehaya and Sawako, right? That’s going to be heartbreaking but hopefully not terrible.

I just love this series so much. Can’t wait for the next one.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Novel Review: Girl, Stolen by April Henry

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Genre: YA Suspense

Publisher: Square Fish (Macmillan)

Release Date: 2010

Spoilers?: No.

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

Teaser Tuesday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sixteen–year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription for antibiotics. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen. Griffin hadn't meant to kidnap Cheyenne, but once his dad finds out that Cheyenne's father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there's a reason to keep her. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare? Because she's not only sick with pneumonia—she's also blind.

The Cover:

I really like both covers for this book. The one above is more subtle, without a model, but shows the same idea, with the crime scene tape, and I like that. I like the original cover more, though, because I like the tape over the mouth. They're both good, though.

Review:

I was impressed with the first book by Henry that I picked up, so I’ve been looking forward to this one in particular.

Cheyenne is blind, and sick, and ends up accidentally kidnapped when Griffin steals the car she’s resting in. Griffin freaks out, and when he takes her to his father, they end up actually kidnapping her for ransom when they find out who her parents are.

Cheyenne is in a bad spot, of course, but she does what she can. She knows how to handle being blind, how to find clues on her own, and she does what she’s able. Griffin, I feel bad for, because he’s stuck with a terrible father, too afraid to do anything against him. They’re both doing what they can in the terrible situation they’re in.

I will admit, though, that this wasn’t very exciting, on-the-edge-of-your-seat intense. I wish it was, but instead it was much more slow moving. The ending was good, and I’m happy with how it all worked out. I like what happened with Cheyenne and Griffin, but I also wish that there was more closure for them. I think that Henry likes making these open-ended endings, of which I am not a huge fan, but they’re okay.

I did enjoy this book, and I know it was her first one. I’m looking forward to reading her other ones still.

Wishlist Thursday[144]: Behind the Scenes!! by Bisco Hatori

Behind the Scenes!! 1 by Bisco Hatori

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Volumes: 2+

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

                      

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ranmaru Kurisu comes from a family of hardy, rough-and-tumble fisher folk, and he sticks out at home like a delicate, artistic sore thumb. It’s given him a raging inferiority complex and a permanently pessimistic outlook. Now that he’s in college, he’s hoping to find a sense of belonging. But after a whole life of being left out, does he even know how to fit in?!

It’s two months into Ranmaru’s college career, and if he’s learned one thing, it’s that he’s really uncomfortable around other people. But when he stumbles into a zombie mob attack, he’s forced out of his comfort zone in the most dramatic way possible! Of course it’s just a movie shoot, but when he wakes up from his ignoble faint, he’s been whisked away behind the scenes with the Art Squad! Could this group of weirdoes be what Ranmaru’s been looking for all his life?!

Why?:

Ouran High School Host Club is one of my absolute favorite series, so of course I will pick up anything else released by Hatori. I don’t even care what it’s about, honestly. I’m just super excited for this to be in my hands.