Manga Review: The Demon Prince of Momochi House, Volume 13, by Aya Shouoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 2019

Volumes: 15+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volumes: 1. 12. 14.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Himari Momochi inherits a mysterious house that comes with its own gorgeous demon guardian.

On her sixteenth birthday, orphan Himari Momochi inherits her ancestral estate that she's never seen. Momochi House exists on the barrier between the human and spiritual realms, and Himari is meant to act as guardian between the two worlds. But on the day she moves in, she finds three handsome squatters already living in the house, and one seems to have already taken over her role!

Review:

The plot line in which Himari gets separated from her body lasts much longer than I expected, and then goes into a whole other plot with Kasha.

It's kind of hard to worry too much about these characters, as I have such little doubt that they're not going to be okay, and I think I'm just having a hard time caring or connecting with them at this point.

Aside from that, Himari gets to watch and worry for the first half of this volume. And then things get switched around, and so she worries and tries to do what she can to fix things. She's put through a test to save Aoi, and it looks like some questions regarding Aoi might be answered in the next volume. At least, his relationship with Kasha, and why it's so twisted.

I don't mind this series, but I really wish I liked it more, that I cared more. I'm just ehh on it right now, I guess.

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

Manga Review: Ten Count, Volume 6, by Rihito Takarai

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 6.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Corporate secretary Shirotani suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder in this doctor-patient romance fraught with compulsion!

Corporate secretary Shirotani suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. One day he meets Kurose, a therapist who offers to take him through a ten-step program to cure him of his compulsion. As the two go through each of the ten steps, Shirotani’s attraction to his counselor grows.

Review:

This is the final volume of the series, though I was unaware. We see Shirotani face some of his traumatic history in this volume, the girl who scarred him, and how Kurose reacts to that, despite not knowing the whole story. Shirotani has to get over a few of his issues, in his attempt at being better with his OCD. And he does get better in some ways, and he knows he still has more work to do, and that there's only so much he can do. This issue isn't an easy-step-process to being cured, and I appreciate that that's addressed at the end of the book. They both acknowledge that he isn't going to be magically better, but that he can still work to overcome some of this.

Throughout all of this, we see the couple grow more stable with each other, grow closer and better together.

I completely understand that a lot of people don't like this series. It's problematic—there's no arguing that. But I still really liked it. It's very hot, and I like the possible D/s elements it plays with. It's a definite guilty pleasure read. To me, it reads and feels very much like a Fifty Shades of Grey, or a Sylvia Day, kind of romance. It has very problematic themes and romanticizes not-good things and somewhat-unbelievable, problematic characters. And yet, it's still a book that I enjoy reading, and that I continue despite being unable to really defend it. It is bad, but it's also so good and fun/hot to read.

I enjoy this series, the good and the bad. I liked it a lot. And I would definitely read more of Takarai's work.

Manga Review: The Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Volume 3, by Yu Tomofuji

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 10+

Spoilers?: Light.

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Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Hoping to take vengeance for the murder of his childhood friend Sariphi, the young Ilya infiltrates the royal palace. He's captured, and the King shows him mercy, sparing his life. When Ilya learns that Sariphi herself is still very much alive, he demands her return. Sariphi refuses, only to be kidnapped by Ilya, who intends to bring her back to human territory. The King is then confronted with a dilemma: If he truly wishes for Sariphi's happiness, is it kinder to pursue her...or to let her be returned to her own people?

Review:

This was honestly a surprising plot line for me.

It's a common trope, sure, having a guy from Sariphi's past show up, in the form of an old love. Of course, Sariphi didn't think of him like that. He was a kind boy who sometimes showed up in her village, and who she grew close to over time. But while Sariphi always knew she would be sacrificed and thus never put too much into relationships for the future, the boy came to love her and believed he needed to protect her.

The boy also hated beasts of any kind, as they killed his family. Discovering that Sariphi is with the king of beasts, he believes she's either dead or being held against her will, and wants to rescue her.

What surprised me about this, is how violent and steadfast in his believes he turns out to be. He wants to kill all the beasts, and is willing to fight the king for her. He also fully believes he needs to take her away, no matter what she tells him.

It's kind of heartbreaking, how different the two are. Sariphi is in a very different place from Ilya, and he doesn't quite realize that. On the other hand, he gives a good contrast to the king, who only wants Sariphi to be happy. And who does grow a bit possessive when this other guy tries to take her away.

It's a bittersweet story line. I like where it leaves Sariphi and Leonhart, though.

Manga Review: Itsuwaribito, Volume 20, by Yuuki Iinuma

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5

Publisher: Shonen Sunday (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2017

Volumes: 23.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 19. 21.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The adventures of a liar and his band of friends who use lies to do good.

Utsuho’s truthfulness as a child resulted in an enormous catastrophe, and he decided to lie from that day forward. Raised in a village of orphans by a monk, Utsuho is an unrepentant troublemaker. The monk eventually inspires him to help people, but there’s no way Utsuho’s going to lead an honest life! Instead, he’s going to use his talents for mischief and deception for good!

Utsuho and his companions continue their fierce confrontation with “hero” and itsuwaribito Gin Hobaku, who has the Land of Owari firmly under his thumb. Gin’s underlings, believing themselves superior to Utsuho’s friends, now find that those same friends are not quite the pushovers they thought they were! In the main event, however, it’s Utsuho against Gin, a foe who has defeated him once already and outwitted him at nearly every turn!

Review:

 I haven't read any of this series, and I had pretty much no idea what was going on as I started this.

We're starting up a battle, in the middle of rubble, it looks like. Light and dark are fighting, basically one guy against a group of people. It seems like a fight that's been a while coming, too. It's a sad ending to the fight, too. Pointed, and not necessarily a good win. But I guess a win nonetheless?

I don't know any of these characters, so I had a hard time rooting for either side, or following the end of the volume.

Meh. It was an okay read, though the art was interesting.

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

Manga Review: Kaguya-sama Love is War, Volume 6, by Aka Akasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 2019

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two high school geniuses scheme to get the other to confess their love first.

Two geniuses. Two brains. Two hearts. One battle. Who will confess their love first…?!

Will Kaguya figure out what Miyuki wants for his birthday plus present him with the perfect cake? Is treasurer Yu flunking out of school and beyond help…or can the person he fears most get him back on track? Then, the romantic Autumn Moon Viewing Festival leads to some stellar night moves. The student council plays a role-playing game in which at least one member doesn’t get to play out their fantasy. Ai assumes an alter ego to prove she can get Miyuki to fall in love with her in just one day. And Miyuki’s time as student council president is up!

We play many roles in life.

Review:

Pretty much all of the problems in this series is because the characters overthink everything. Kaguya and Miyuki both want something, but want the other person to admit it first, and thus they overthink everything they say, and everything the other person says, and how to react and what reaction that will cause. It's gone so far beyond a game between them at this point, I think.

There are some light chapters in the beginning, including a girls' day out, and some conflict/helpful studying between Kaguya and Ishigami. And also Ai pushes Kaguya regarding how little progress she's made with Miyuki. But then it's time for a new student council to take over, as they're going on to becoming third years. Which means they could try again, or there could be new people in their roles.

The reactions and the relationships are a bit ridiculous in this series. It's a lot of fun to follow.

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

Manga Review: Everyone's Getting Married, Volume 9, by Izumi Miyazono

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2019

Volumes: 9.

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Opposites attract—but should they get married?!

Successful career woman Asuka Takanashi has an old-fashioned dream of getting married and becoming a housewife. After her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her to pursue his own career goals, she encounters popular newscaster Ryu Nanami. Asuka and Ryu get along well, but the last thing he wants is to ever get married. This levelheaded pair who want the opposite things in life should never get involved, except…

Successful career woman Asuka Takanashi has an old-fashioned dream of getting married and becoming a housewife, but popular TV newscaster Ryu Nanami would rather die than ever get married. Asuka doesn’t want to get in the way of Ryu pursuing his career abroad, so she has ended their long-distance relationship. With their lives on different paths, is this loving couple destined to remain apart?

Review:

I respect how this series ended, which is probably an odd thing to say.

This started with Asuka declaring that she knew what she wanted, which was to marry and be a homemaker, and with Ryu stating he didn't want to marry. They've both been through quite a bit, though it might have dragged on in some places. I appreciate that Asuka decided she might need to do something else for now, and that she didn't think she and Ryu could be together, given how differently their wants were.

I think it made sense, how things play out from there. Asuka ended up going down a different path than she expected, and I think she was happy with that. I'm glad that the drama with Kamiya was actually resolved, finally. The relationship between Asuka and Ryu was resolved sweetly, too, and I'm happy with their ending. They kind of both needed to do their own thing for a while, before they could finally meet in the middle, and that made sense.

Parts of this series seemed to drag on, and then the ending came quicker than I expected, but overall I'm happy with how it ended. It didn't feel rushed, and it made sense for the characters, so I can appreciate that.

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

Manga Review: Ooku: The Inner Chambers, Volume 14, by Fumi Yoshinaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 16+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 13. 15.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Eisner-nominated Fumi Yoshinaga’s alternative history of Edo-era Japan, the men of Japan are dying out, and the women have taken up the reigns of power—including the shogun’s seat!

In Edo period Japan, a strange new disease called the Redface Pox has begun to prey on the country's men. Within eighty years of the first outbreak, the male population has fallen by seventy-five percent. Women have taken on all the roles traditionally granted to men, even that of the shogun. The men, precious providers of life, are carefully protected. And the most beautiful of the men are sent to serve in the shogun's Inner Chamber...

With the death of her monstrous father, Iesada is finally assured that she can have a consort who will survive life in the Inner Chambers. And she is delighted that the new spouse chosen for her is intelligent, kind and considerate of her past trauma. But the consort Taneatsu comes to the court with a past of his own—and an assignment from his liege lord that could pit him against his beloved shogun.

Review:

Iesada takes a new husband in this volume, makes it official. She's become so used to not letting men close, though, that she tries to keep him at a distance. This works for a while, but he shows he's committed to her, and wants to do right by her. It's a process, but he grows closer.

At the same time, Abe Masahiro grows ill. She's made a lot of progress, and yet her time is coming much quicker than any of them expected. It's a sad couple of scenes with her, and for Iesada, who had grown very close to her.

I'm not much of a history person, or a historical reader, but I don't mind this series. There's a lot of nuances and politics, but it's still interesting. They're smart about what they do, and I like seeing the women taking charge when they're able. 

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

Manga Review: Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle, Volume 4, by Kagiji Kumanomata

Rating (Out of 5): ~3-3.5

Publisher: Shonen Sunday (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 11+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A captured princess just wants a good night’s sleep! Shhh…

Imprisoned in the castle of the Demon King, all spoiled-sweet Princess Syalis dreams of is a good night’s sleep! Shhh...

Valentine’s Day arrives, and Princess Syalis is hard put to get the haul of chocolate she’s accustomed to receiving back home in her kingdom. Her latest plots to get a better night’s rest include learning to hibernate, becoming a ghost and getting an annoying earworm out of her head. Now how can she put a stop to the Teddy Demons summoning her every time they get into a kerfluffle…? Then the princess gets kidnapped from her kidnappers!

Review:

Princess Syalis continues in her adventures of sneaking around the demon castle in search of the perfect sleep implements. She gets a bear costume, for instance, and thus starts being mistaken for a Teddy demon. She goes in search of the perfect lullaby. But the big surprise comes when she's kidnapped from the demon castle, to the old demon castle.

I honestly thought this would be handled differently. I expected them to be relieved she was gone, and to find humor in her causing havoc with Twilight's brother, Hades. Instead, they try to protect her and get her back. I guess it shows how much they care for her, and are actually trying to keep her in their hold, even though she's a terror.

It was a fun new element, though, and entertaining to see how little Syalis pays attention or cares about her surroundings and the people around her.

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

Novel Review: Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Release Date: January 2018

Spoilers?: No.

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

Teaser Tuesday.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Drix was convicted of a crime--one he didn't commit--he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the new Second Chance Program, the governor's newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.

Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor's daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn't may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.

When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle's parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix's messy life.

But sometimes love can breach all barriers.

Fighting against a society that can't imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves--Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence--and each other to finally get what they deserve.

The Cover:

I really like this cover. I don't remember the Ferris wheel being important to the story, and perhaps the story itself could be portrayed better, but it's still a very pretty cover. I like the simplistic beauty of it, the colors are so pretty, and the font and title and image would definitely catch my eye in the store.

Review:

Elle has grown up with a politician father, and she's learned to put on a good face, to be a good daughter in front of cameras. She hasn't realized quite what all of it has done to her, or what all her parents are doing.

Drix was framed for a crime he didn't commit, and did the juvenile time for it. Now he's out, because of a special program made by Elle's father, and chosen as the face of it. He was in a bad situation, and he got out of it, and now he's trying to balance his old life with his new self and his new commitments.

This book took a little while to get going for me, but I did like the dynamic between Elle and Drix from the beginning. They meet without knowing each other at first, and they keep bumping into each other while trying not to, and then they form a friendship during it.

I really like how Elle's struggle is done. She believes that she's only doing what she is supposed to, to support her father, and what she's agreed to. She doesn't want to see what her father is really doing, and what they're actually doing to her. It bothered me how they were using her, and it only made the way she finally stands up for herself more worth it. And I really appreciated the way she stayed firm in her decision. After everything, she doesn't just let them apologize and ignore it; they have to show her. It made me really happy for her, how she dealt with it.

I had a guess for what was behind Drix's issue, but there were still some surprises thrown in there. The conclusion to that was both good and very sad. But overall I really liked how the book ended.

This one took a little while to get me, but I really enjoyed it by the end.

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 8, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2019

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when these two utter opposites pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly!

Valentine’s Day rolls around, and Hana wonders what she should give Takane even as she struggles to hide her feelings from him. Meanwhile, Hana’s father poses a question to Takane—exactly how long is he planning to continue his arranged marriage relationship with Hana?

Review:

Valentine's comes and goes, and Hana continues to worry about her relationship with Takane. She likes him, but she doesn't want to change anything or show her feelings, and so she decides that she needs to make Takane think about her and fall for her. If he starts relating her to common items and places, then he'll start to think of her all the time. It's progress, apparently.

I really love the struggle and banter between these two. They both clearly like each other, but they're being stubborn about it. There's a sudden change for Hana in this volume, as her family is suddenly given a new opportunity to move into a much bigger house, not too far from where they live now. Given the surprise at the end (though not actually surprising), I'm curious to see what that means for them next. This could be a really fun development, I think.

This series has probably become one of my favorites at this point, and I always get excited when a new volume arrives. It's just so much fun.

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

Manga Review: Kiss Him, Not Me!, Volume 12, by Junko

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: 2017

Volumes: 14.

Spoilers?: Yes.

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

Volume: 1. 11. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Hiya! It’s me, Kae. Everyone came all the way to Hokkaido to rescue me from Tah-kun, but just as we were getting away, Mutsumi-senpai fell from a cliff and hit his head! Now Mutsumi-senpai is in the hospital and won’t wake up! But no matter how long it takes, I refuse to leave his side until he’s conscious again. It’s my fault that he’s here, and I’m going to do everything in my power to bring him out of his coma—even if I have to draw some magic circles and call upon a few spirits! But will my otaku skills really be enough to bring him back? Or will I have to borrow a method from a fairy tale to wake this sleeping bishonen? Either way, this experience has made me realize something about Mutsumi-senpai, and when he wakes up, I may just finally make my decision …

Review:

Mutsumi is in a coma for most of this volume. Of course, Kae is extremely worried and refuses to leave him unless absolutely necessary. It makes sense, given her history, that she worries herself skinny again.

I can honestly say that I didn't expect this to be the outcome of the harem. Even as this plot line started, I was doubtful. I still thought something else was going to come along to dramatize it or change Kae's mind. After reading that the author intended for this from the beginning, I accept it, though I'm still surprised.

I will admit that he's probably my second choice—I've been voting for Igarashi from the beginning, and he's still my favorite. But Mutsumi is also very sweet and I think he works with Kae, for the most part.

Now that they're official, though, we get to see how their dynamic is actually going to work. Kae is still a crazy otaku, and sometimes that comes first for her. He's rather supportive, but he might have to draw the line at a few things. I'm intrigued to see how this develops, and how they compromise for each other and discuss these things.

Manga Review: Children of the Whales, Volume 7, by Abi Umeda

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this postapocalyptic fantasy, a sea of sand swallows everything but the past.

In an endless sea of sand drifts the Mud Whale, a floating island city of clay and magic. In its chambers a small community clings to survival, cut off from its own history by the shadows of the past.

The Sea of Sand harbors many mysteries, and an encounter with one of them awakens deep memories of the past for the Eldest of the Mud Whale. But everyone is still reeling from the recently revealed harsh secrets about the true nature of the Mud Whale. How can Chakuro and the others handle the new knowledge these strange visions grant?

Review:

As the mud whale continues its journey, the inhabitants continue to research and attempt to learn more of their history and what led them here. When they meet up with a ghost of their ship, they get to see the ghosts of their past.

At the same time, the group is reading and going deeper and deeper inside the mud whale, until they discover a history no one expected. It hits Chakuro hard, as we see the effect on Ouni. It's a surprise, but an interesting revelation. I'm curious what it means for what happens next, and what they all know.

In the last quarter of the volume, we get to see a side story, with characters we've never met, but supposedly an untold story set in this world. It's not hard to believe in this setting, but still very sad. Sweet at times, but an overall sad tale.

This series really intrigues me. The world it's set in, the characters; and I love the art and style of telling it all. It's always an interesting read.

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

Manga Review: Dimension W, Volume 2, by Yuji Iwahara

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: 2016

Volumes: 15+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

True to his warning, Loser--the infamous phantom thief-makes an explosive entrance at the art museum to steal the Angels of Black and White Wings statue! "Collector" Kyouma Mabuchi, now teamed up with the android Mira to recover illegal Coils, faces off with the masked thief in the midst of the museum's heavy security. But it just so happens that Loser recognizes Kyouma--and what's more, he seems to know all about the Collector's dark past...What other secrets may lie hidden within the statue he seeks?

Review:

After the first volume, I wasn't really interested at all. But after this volume, I think I've changed my mind.

I thought this was going in the direction of episodic cases where they find coils and steal, maybe save some stuff. But instead, the art thief turns out to have a potentially deeper connection to Mabuchi, though that's left open-ended for the moment. It turns out good for Mira, though, who helps out and finds some coils.

After that, we meet the kids who show up to bother Mabuchi, though he's never done anything but complain at them. This leads to an explanation of the point system, which is something that people start with at birth and lose when they do bad things—it appears that they're unable to earn points back, and if they get down to a certain point, they'll be forced to go to lowers schools, it could ruin their reputation, it affects them as adults. It's an awful system, honestly; reading about it made me uneasy.

I'm not sure where the cliffhanger is going, though I'm intrigued. I didn't much care for the first volume, but this one has me much more interested. I liked Mabuchi more in this volume, and I liked getting to know Mira a lot more. I'm intrigued by the world this is set in, as well. I might actually pick up the next volume when I get the chance.