Manga Review: Kiss Him, Not Me!, Volume 5, by Junko

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: June 2016

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: Yes.

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

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kae here! Summer vacation is over, but back at school, even cool gentlemanly Mutsumi-senpai is turning up the heat around me, so I guess even he has an intense side?

I'm seeing his passion even more now that his older brother, Mr. Mutsumi, has become a student-teacher at our school...and wants to whisk me away from all four boys!

It's brother vs. brother as the Mutsumi men both try to win my affections, but I'm enjoying this action! A fiery battle between two gorgeous bothers and a teacher-student setup?!

I never thought I'd get to see so much taboo in the flesh! I wonder if the boys can outwit such a mischievous older man...

Review:

This volume focuses on Asuma, the quiet guy who just goes along with everything they do. Him and Kae seem to just have a nice friendship going, but Shima is the one who points out that maybe Asuma isn’t really in the running for romance.

The group goes on a treasure hunt, and Asuma starts questioning his feelings for Kae. And then Asuma’s big brother shows up and starts teaching at their school. Kazuma is a nice guy, and a flirt to everyone in his vicinity (even the guys, which I appreciate), and he enjoys picking on his little brother when he can. This pushes Asuma to feeling protective and jealous over Kae, and thus the cute cliffhanger.

This series is just a lot of fun to me. I enjoy the characters and all the fandom references. I’m hoping we get to see more of Igarashi, and even Shima, in the next volume. Those are my favorites.

Teaser Tuesday[217]: Alanna: The First Adventure (The Song of the Lioness, #1) by Tamora Pierce

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!

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Alanna: The First Adventure (The Song of the Lioness, #1) by Tamora Pierce

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: 1983

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

From now on I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight.

And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Thom heads for the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page.

But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies.

Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins - one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land.

Excerpt:

“Ralon broke her arm.

Each talk she had with Duke Gareth was worse than the last one. Once again she faced him, this time with one arm in a sling.” (Paperback, pg. 84)

What are you reading right now?

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 1, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 5, 2016

Volumes: 22+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A chance event triggered Shouyou Hinata's love for volleyball. His club had no members, but somehow persevered and finally made it into its very first and final regular match of middle school, where it was steamrolled by Tobio Kageyama, a superstar player known as "King of the Court."

Vowing revenge, Hinata applied to the Karasuno High School volleyball club... only to come face-to-face with his hated rival, Kageyama!

Review:

I wasn’t too sure what to expect of this, other than that it’s a shonen sports manga, about volleyball.

We meet Hinata, who is short but determined to be an amazing volleyball player. His middle school didn’t even have a team, but he practiced at any and every opportunity that he could find. Then he meets Kageyama, who is controlling and angry, an intimidating presence on the court. They start as rivals, but then they end up on the same high school team and have to learn to work together.

It was interesting to see them trying to find compromise and understanding. I also liked seeing how convicted and determined Hinata was, and I liked how he never gave up no matter how bad he was losing, and how it only makes him work harder to get better.

To be honest, though, more than the first half of the volume was a little boring; it just seemed very long, and I’m not sure why. The artwork is also just okay. Not particularly pretty, though some panels are better than others. There was an interesting cast of teammates we met, though.

It was just an okay volume, though I imagine it will get better.

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

Manga Review: Toriko, Volume 35, by Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Volumes: 38+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 34. 36.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a savage world ruled by the pursuit of the most delicious foods, it's either eat or be eaten! While searching for the tastiest foods imaginable, Gourmet Hunter Toriko travels the worldwith his bottomless stomach,facing every beast in his way.

There is no monkey business this time as Toriko and the gang rematch against the Monkey King—they have mastered the infamous Monkey Dance and are ready to beat the playful ape at his own game! Their prize is literally dangling right in front of them as the dance-off begins! Can Toriko and the gang swing their hips to victory in time to save Komatsu?

Review:

I believe I missed a volume, but we’re in the second half of the monkey battle as we start this one. The group is trying to get a pair from the monkey, as it will be the magic food to cure Komatsu. It is a little disturbing to me that we see them trying to reach for the monkeys scrotum mid-battle. But I guess it’s lightened by their fight turning into a dance?

There’s some interesting techniques here, and then it slows down and there’s another feast. Which ends with their genders transforming, and the guys growing boobs.

This is such an odd series, so weird, and yet quite easy to read and rather enjoyable. It’s a surprisingly easy volume to read each time I receive one.

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