Manga Review: Twin Star Exorcists, Volume 12, by Yoshiaki Sukeno

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2018

Volumes: 17+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 10. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Exorcists Rokuro and Benio unleash serious supernatural action while purifying the world of monsters.

The “Twin Star Exorcists” are fated to produce the child prophesied to end the war with the monstrous Kegare… But can Rokuro and Benio get along for five minutes, let alone save the world?

Review:

 I think I skipped a volume, because we start this one on a competition I was unaware of. We see some exorcists fighting off, split between girls and boys among the different families on the island. We get to meet some of the odd characters, but I don't particularly care for most of them.

We see a couple girl fights at the beginning, which don't really matter to me until we get to see Mayura's. And after that, Rokuro begins his fight. It's all very intense and rather violent, with a little time in between for character interactions. Rokuro's fight stops on a cliffhanger, and it looks like it'll be getting worse, as his partner was going easy on him.

This volume took me a while to get through, as I just didn't really care about the characters in it. I don't really care for the competition plots in general, but especially when I don't know most of the characters, or why they're fighting. Just meh for this one.

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

Manga Review: Anonymous Noise, Volume 11, by Ryoko Fukuyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 17+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 10. 12.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Music and longing collide in this ballad of unrequited love!

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Luckily, Nino reunites with Momo and Yuzu in high school, but things haven’t played out the way anyone expected…

Nino, Yuzu and Momo take the stage together with six years’ worth of emotions racing through their hearts. When Nino’s singing unleashes her deeply held feelings, how will Momo respond with his love for her?

Review:

Momo is helping at the beginning of their concert, because Yuzu is having problems. Nino's appreciation only serves to push Momo a little too far, though, and gives us another surprise. Just as Nino thinks she's figured out what she wants, what she's doing, one of the guys gives her another surprise. She's starting to realize that her feelings are mixed up between Momo and Yuzu. They both mean a lot to her, and they're pulling her in different directions, which she hasn't realized until now.

At one point during the concert, though, it seems like Alice was realizing her fans/the audience are there to hear her just as much as she's trying to reach Momo. I hope that becomes a motivation for her at some point.

Just as Nino and Momo seem to be steady again, as they have seemed to figure things out, it looks like Yuzu is going to mess things up again. I'm not surprised, but I'm curious to see what for. Although... I am a little conflicted, because I think I prefer Yuzu for Nino? I think I like Momo more in general, but I'm unsure for the romance...

While those three are the definite mains, I do like the little pieces of Miou and Haruyoshi's relationship. Miou's feelings for him are growing stronger, and it's nice to see Haruyoshi seeing this; it's sweet how happy it makes him, that his feelings are being returned.

Nothing comes easy in this series, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes next.

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

Manga Review: Astra Lost in Space, Volume 4, by Kenta Shinohara

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2018

Volumes: 5.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Can eight teenagers find their way home from 5,000 light-years away?

It’s the year 2063, and interstellar space travel has become the norm. Eight students from Caird High School and one child set out on a routine planet camp excursion. While there, the students are mysteriously transported 5,000 light-years away to the middle of nowhere! Will they ever make it back home?!

After crashing on planet Icriss, all seems lost for the crew of the Astra. That is, until they discover another Astra hidden on the planet—and there’s a woman in cryogenic sleep inside! Will this new Astra be the ark that saves group B-5 from their despair?

Review

I haven't read the previous volumes of this series, so I'm not sure what led up to this point for the characters. But they definitely get a revelation in this one.

The group of characters end up on a new planet, with their ship wrecked, not knowing where they are or how to get back on their way home. On this new planet, they discover another ship exactly like theirs, with another human frozen, and decide to bring her along. It's a discovery for them, and it leads them to test two of their own members, and leads to a revolutionary discovery about their own origins.

And then we get an even bigger surprise for the Earthling on board.

Given that I don't know all the backstory here, these revelations probably weren't as big for me as other readers, but even then they seemed quite big. They're crazy concepts.

I enjoyed a few of the characters in this volume. I liked the sweet moments between Quitterie and Zack, and I appreciated the diversity thrown in by Luca. I probably would like this series if I followed it all the way. Even for a non-science reader like me, it was a good read.

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

Manga Review: Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Volume 3, by Inio Asano

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 7+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s just an everyday apocalypse.

Three years ago the aliens invaded Tokyo. Nothing was ever the same again.

But after a while, even impending doom starts to feel ordinary.

The defense business is booming in Japan, and the amazing Hyujin weapons are finally getting their chance to shine. But civilians are fed up with the inconvenience of being collateral damage, and their protest signs are starting to get really pointed! Meanwhile, Kadode has to face up to the realities of living in an apocalypse and not taking her college entrance exams seriously. At least high school is finally over!

Review:

While the protests and debates continue, and there's an attack that kills a main character, their lives still have to continue on? Everything is happening in the background, and yet is very much apparent. I must admit it's quite well-done. I wouldn't call this horror, in any way really, but this plot is subtly unsettling.

The girls are graduating, and get to move on in their lives. Start something new.

The brother who's been stalking/cyber-bullying? This popular girl, finally gets to meet her, and instead of being mean or tricking her, he actually ends up making her feel better. It's an odd change. We also get to see Ai go on a date with a boy who likes her. I kind of understand why she decides the way she does, but it's also really sad to me. I think it would have been nice if she'd let him in, instead.

This is a really odd series. I definitely wouldn't have picked it up on my own, and I'm not sure if I'm enjoying it or not.

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

Manga Review: Toriko, Volume 40, by Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2017

Volumes: 43.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 38. 41.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Toriko is a Gourmet Hunter out to eat the world!

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 world with his bottomless stomach, facing every beast in his way.

In the final moments before the Gourmet Eclipse, Toriko and the gang finally reunite and partake in the parts of Acacia’s Full-Course Meal that have been captured so far. What sort of power will the Full-Course Meal impart to Toriko and his friends? Meanwhile, things are getting a little too slimy for Don Slime as he goes head-to-head against Neo, who gets more and more powerful with every bite! With the end of the world looming and the coming of God imminent, will anyone be ready for the disasters to come?

Review:

I didn't mind reading this series at one point, but I think it's gotten too serious for me. Given that I wasn't following the story much, and it's getting to the end, I suppose that makes sense.

The characters are reunited as this volume starts, and they're in the middle of a crazy storm, when they decide to take a break and eat the four foods they've saved. (I don't get why that would work? How can they just take a break?)

We move away from them for a bit, as we see these two crazy creatures having a show down. As the volume nears its end, we finally get to see the final ingredient they're after: God. They've mentioned it for a long time, and they're finally upon it.

I'm unsure what's going to happen after they win this one. The plot and world of this series is so hard to follow, sometimes.

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

Manga Review: Juni Taisen: Zodiac War, Volume 1, by Akira Akatsuki and Nisiosin, and Hikaru Nakamura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Twelve fighters enter, one fighter leaves—who will win the 12th Zodiac War?

Every 12 years, 12 fighters take the form of the Chinese zodiac and engage in a battle royale. With their strength and mysterious powers, they fight to the death and the sole survivor is granted the ultimate prize—any wish.

Eleven of the twelve fighters have gathered, and everyone awaits the final contender—Boar. She is strong, confident and a favorite to win the twelfth Zodiac War. However, this time, the rules have changed! The battle is limited to an abandoned city and all of the contestants are forced to ingest a deadly poison. Monkey tries to call a truce, but before she can the floor explodes, scattering all the fighters. Despite the chaos, one thing’s for sure—only one will remain standing.

Review:

When I went into this volume, I quickly realized that I knew nothing about this series, and that perhaps there was a reason I hadn't watched or read it previously. It's definitely not something I would have had an interest in, had I realized what it was about.

We're immediately set in a Hunger Games (or Battle Royale?)-esque setting, with 12 characters in each zodiac animal theme, in war in which one winner will come out. They have to literally kill each other in order to get the thing they need to win. Each character has a different tactic, and a different perspective on their competitors. They've got different abilities, and some are underestimated more than others.

We get an introduction with a cocky character, who is very quickly eliminated from the competition. It's a bloody, fierce battle we're going into here.

I really had no idea what I was getting into, and honestly, I'm a little wary of reading more. I'm not even sure how I feel about the character development yet. That being said, though, I didn't necessarily mind reading this volume.

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

Manga Review: The Water Dragon's Bride, Volume 7, by Rei Toma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 11.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A modern-day girl gets whisked away to a strange land where she is sacrificed to a water dragon god!

In the blink of an eye, a modern-day girl named Asahi is whisked away from her warm and happy home and stranded in a strange and mysterious world where she meets a water dragon god!

Asahi returns to the present day, and though her reunion with her family is joyful, she misses Subaru and the water dragon god in the other world. When Asahi comes to a decision about what to do, the water dragon god’s heart is greatly shaken!

Review:

I'm so conflicted by this series.

Asahi finally gets to be with her family, who she's missed and wondered about for so long. And it's bittersweet, because they love her and missed her, and she's just starting to get to really know them. But she misses the other world, and she keeps seeing things in the water. She feels like the Water Dragon God is talking to her, is trying to tell her something, and she just can't stay away forever like she's trying to.

The way things end there, must mean that we'll see more of them. I really like her family, too, especially her little brother.

But in the other world, there's chaos. The Water Dragon God and Subaru don't really get along, and yet they have Asahi between them.

Then there's that ending... Oh man, it's awful. I'm not sure how she's going to get out of this, but I also think she's gained some kind of power or something after all this time. I'm hoping something will come of that, but either way, I really need to see what happens next.

Asahi has been through a lot, and I think she's learning to do what she needs to at this point.

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

Manga Review: Fire Punch, Volume 2, by Tatsuki Fujimoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2018

Volumes: 8.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a frozen dystopia where inhabitants eat flesh to survive, can the destructive powers of fire bring salvation?

In the not-too-distant past, the Ice Witch blankets the world in snow, starvation, and madness, leading the inhabitants to seek their salvation in fire. With that, an unusual destiny unfolds for two young orphans, Agni and Luna, blessed with the ability to regenerate. But will this ability prove to be more of a curse than a blessing?

Following the fight with his longtime enemy Doma, Agni is beheaded, and it’s decided that his head is to be taken to the sea. However, during the journey, a mysterious person named Togata appears, and their madness-tainted filming begins!

Review:

I missed the first volume of this, but it looks like the plot moves pretty quickly. From what happened in this volume, and what was mentioned to have already happened, it seems like a lot probably already happened.

From the first half of this volume, I was kind of hating it. There were several moments where I just did not want to read more. There's a rape scene that's kind of stopped, and then we meet an even worse character than the rapists, and then almost everyone we've met is killed.

It was a very graphic first half. And it was extremely disturbing.

Then we move onto the second half, where Togata is determined to help Agni get stronger to get his revenge, but really he's intent on filming all of it. Togata is a disturbing character, and he might even be my main distaste for this series. I've met messed up, realistic characters like this before (Mars, E.S.?, Golden Kamuy), and it just turns my stomach. This might even be the worse I've read to this point.

But then again, the filming parts in the middle are kind of interesting. And I liked Neneto, the camera-girl, and how she follows along with it. There were some sad topics surrounding her, like how she wasn't surprised about what almost happened to her, and how a lot of the men around her before this thought so little of women. There was also a surprising mix of characters surrounding Togata, like a gay couple. These aren't things we see much unless the whole story is about them, so it was odd—and kind of nice?--to have it just be another mention.

Togata gives a not-really-surprising twist at the end of the volume, right after we get to see what is really happening in Behemdorg. It's possibly even more disturbing, what they're doing to Blessed people under the city.

It all turns my stomach.

I kind of hate what I read so far, and yet I have another volume to read waiting. I'm offset and disturbed. This series is graphic and gross and awful. I'm almost glad that I didn't go looking for it when it was first released, as I didn't realize it would be this awful. But there were a few elements of this volume that intrigued me, or that I appreciated.

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

Manga Review: RWBY Official Manga Anthology, Volume 1

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2018

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

 Straight from Rooster Teeth’s hit animation series, a new four-volume anthology series featuring stories from various manga creators, each focusing on a different member of Team RWBY!

The world of Remnant is filled with horrific monsters bent on the destruction of humanity. Fortunately, the kingdoms of the world have risen to combat these forces by training powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses at academies around the planet. Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long are four such Huntresses in training.

All new short stories set in the world of RWBY from no less than twenty different manga creators in one single volume!

Includes a full color four-page story and four full-color illustrations. This volume focuses on Ruby Rose from TEAM RWBY.

Plus, bonus messages from the illustrators and creators, with longer notes from RWBY character designer Ein Lee and actress Lindsay Jones, the voice of Ruby Rose herself!

Review:

This is an anthology volume, by a ton of apparently new mangaka, and each volume is apparently about one character. This volume was about Ruby.

To note, I didn't recognize any of the authors. Some of them had better art than others, and there was a variety of styles. There was normal action plots, there were comedy and slice-of-life stories, and there were a few chibi and 4-koma ones.

I haven't read much of RWBY stuff, and I haven't watched the show. So I have very little to go by, aside from just reading some fun random stories. Some of these stories were a little too cheesy for me, and some were a little too random. I would like to think that it gave me a little more idea of what the girls' relationship with each other is. They're close, but still getting to know each other, it seems to me.

I didn't mind this volume. But I will admit that I don't think I love RWBY, at least not from what I've seen. I'm not sold.

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

Manga Review: Magi: Labyrinth of Magic, Volume 25, by Shinobu Ohtaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Sunday (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2017

Volumes: 37.

Spoilers?: Yes.

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

Volume: 1. 24. 26.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An epic dungeon-busting adventure inspired by One Thousand and One Nights!

The three nations of Sindria, Leam and the Kou Empire now ponder the story of Alma Tran as told by Aladdin. The tragedy of that fallen world has lessons for all, but disagreements among these powerful countries could mean tragedy might happen all over again! Then, shocking news arrives from the east—a new power is rising in the Kou Empire!

Review:

While everyone was holed up in one spot getting a history lesson, they're still debating what side to take and what to do next, when they get the news that someone else was working to take control. Yep, Judar informs them that he's been working with Hakuryu, to overthrow the Kou empire. They've collected a following, and they're ready to kill the dictator-like queen, it seems.

I find it funny that all of this has been happening in the background, while everyone was getting a history lesson from Aladdin. It gives Alibaba a reason to make a quick decision on what side to take and what to do about it, though.

I'm only, like, kind of paying attention to this series. I'm very behind, and I keep forgetting I have it to read. I think it's too high-fantasy for me, when I originally thought I would enjoy it.

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

Manga Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 2, by Koyoharu Gotouge

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2018

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Tanjiro sets out on the path of the Demon Slayer to save his sister and avenge his family!

In Taisho-era Japan, Tanjiro Kamado is a kindhearted boy who makes a living selling charcoal. But his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his entire family. His little sister Nezuko is the only survivor, but she has been transformed into a demon herself! Tanjiro sets out on a dangerous journey to find a way to return his sister to normal and destroy the demon who ruined his life.

During final selection for the Demon Slayer Corps, Tanjiro faces a disfigured demon and uses the techniques taught by his master, Urokodaki! As Tanjiro begins to walk the path of the Demon Slayer, his search for the demon who murdered his family leads him to investigate the disappearances of young girls in a nearby town.

Review:

Now that Tanjiro has passed and become a demon slayer, he can go back to his sister. He has to wait for his sword, and he's been given a bird to pass on his jobs to him. He's relieved to be with his sister again, and see that she's doing okay.

His first job is to kill the demon that's been stealing girls from a village. It's a rather quick search, really, though it doesn't give him any more info on the man he's searching for.

Oh yeah, at the beginning of the chapter, it's just mentioned that his masked friend informed him of a demon, the only one known to be able to turn humans into demons, and the man who must have killed his family. Supposedly this man is the only one who might know how to turn his sister back.

Given how abruptly this information is given to Tanjiro, and then how easily he finds him in the latter half of the volume... It feels rushed, and much too easy. It makes me think that this is a short series, but it's not, so hopefully that means we get new plot lines after a while, and this doesn't get stretched out too much. It's hard to tell right now, though.

Things seem to be working too easily for Tanjiro. As soon as he gets new information or is told he needs something, right there it comes along for him. It's too convenient for me.

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

Manga Review: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 14, by Mizuho Kusanagi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 28+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 13. 15.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A red-haired princess loses her family and her kingdom… Now she must rise and fight for her throne!

Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family!

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:

 The group makes a stop in a water tribe village, where there are nefarious things happening at night. Jaeha experiences this first hand, unsurprisingly. They discover that people are being tricked into a drug addiction that makes them crazy, and of course they need to find out who's doing it and how to stop it.

We meet the water tribe princess here, Riri, as she has a tendency to sneak out. She wants to do things, to explore and learn, but she's always being held back. She's also not taught anything helpful, much like Yona used to be. For her, seeing Yona is rather surprising, and gives her an image of what she wants to be. It's inspiring.

This series has so many comedic moments, sure, but it does the inspiring ones, the thoughtful and impressive moments, just as good. And there are quite a few here, as we see Yona standing up for what she believes in, and fighting even when things are against her. She's surviving, as she has learned to do.

I just love this series so completely. Every volume is amazing, and a thing of art, and I need more in my life.

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

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 25, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4-4.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2018

Volumes: 35+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 24. 26.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Hinata may not have been allowed to participate in the Miyagi Prefecture Rookie Camp, but he’s determined to learn something from watching on the sidelines as a ball boy! Meanwhile, thanks to the other players at the All-Japan Youth Camp, Kageyama starts to worry about how he interacts with his teammates! Then, with the Spring Tournament looming ever closer, Date Tech arrives at Karasuno for a practice game!

Review:

Karasuno and Date Tech have a practice game, and Karasuno is in a confusing place during it. They've all learned new things over the break, and Kageyama in particular, seems conflicted over his new information. They're all in different places and trying new things, and they have to sync up again. It's a rough game for a while there.

Seeing Kageyama and Hinata meet up again is funny. They're so very competitive with each other, and yet they also seem to understand each other better than the others. They partner up so perfectly. Which is why it helps when Hinata realizes what is wrong with Kageyama and just straight-up confronts him about being the King, and it helps him get himself together.

Have I said that I love this series before? Because I so do.

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