Manga Review: Love Me, Love Me Not, Volume 2, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2020

Volumes: 12.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

 

Goodreads Synopsos:

 

Love and friendship have become quite complicated for these four friends. Yuna has fallen in love with Rio, but he has feelings for Akari that he’s never been able to express. While Yuna keeps his secret, Akari makes a move on the person she’s interested in.

 

Review:

 

As tensions increase in the Rio and Akari household, Yuna struggles with how to deal with her own feelings. As is typical with Sakisaka (which I still appreciate), she doesn't hold them back for long though. This could complicate things, but Yuna uses it as a way to be open and honest, and to move forward as both of their friends. Akari is a bit oblivious about it, though, as she's trying to only be Yuna's friend and Rio's sister.

Then there's Kazuomi. He's everyone's friend at this point, and seems pretty oblivious to all of the drama bubbling up. He's just a good guy, and I like him.

I think I'm only slowly following this series because I'm not sure where it's going yet. Even though they're only four characters, there are a couple of different ways these relationships could go still. I'm not sure which one I really want, either. But I like all of the characters, how well-rounded they're all becoming, and the friendships that are forming between each of them.

Manga Review: Komi Can't Communicate, Volume 4, by Tomohito Oda

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Sunday (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2019

Volumes: 17+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

The journey to 100 friends begins with a single conversation.

Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi’s greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve. With the whole student body keeping its distance and Komi unable to utter a single word, friendship might be forever beyond her reach.

School is out for the summer, and Komi is still getting used to this strange new world of having friends. She’s discovering that friendship doesn’t automatically save you from awkward situations with people, but the more time she spends with her friends, the easier it all seems. And to her astonishment, for the first time in her life Komi isn’t anxious for summer to end.

 

Review:

 

It's summer, which means this odd friend group has to find excuses to see each other. There's some video game competition, and some last-minute homework groups. We also get a chapter of Komi just at home, where it's hot and she hangs out with her brother and decides to cook. It's very slice-of-life and quiet, and honestly I rather like it.

Then school is back, and there's sports competitions. We also meet a new character, a new student with an accent who admires Komi. There's one chapter where Tadano shows the other two what Komi is really thinking; they're way off, and somehow Tadano can read her perfectly. They also visit an arcade and take purikura pictures, which is very cute.

I relate a lot to Komi—not as extreme, but a quiet introvert nonetheless—and so I enjoy this series quite a bit. Even just the relaxed chapters, but also just seeing her figure out how to communicate, is all very real to me. I'm enjoying this series a lot.

 

 

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

Manga Review: Overlord, Volume 12, by Kugane Maruyama, Hugin Miyama, so-bin and Satoshi Oshio

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: May 2020

Volumes: 13+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 11.

Goodreads Synopsis:

At last, Demiurge's schemes in the kingdom begin bearing fruit...Between Jaldaboath and a powerful fighter capable of manipulating insects, the beleaguered humans have no choice but to rely on the Blue Roses!

Review:

 

This volume continues with an ongoing arc, by jumping into a battle against a bug maid. This takes up a good portion of the volume, as it delves into another, harder fight. It appears that two groups are coming together to fight Jaldaboath, and working with the town to win. It doesn't appear that everyone is fully on the same side, however.

I jumped into this volume with zero idea of what I was getting into. I apparently had a very different impression of what this series even was, and have no context for these characters or how this world works.

Overall, I'm not much of an action fan, and the battles weren't interesting to me. Possibly the tiny bit of characterization we got from Evileye, or the backstabbing of the royal family. But otherwise, this just wasn't for me. Meh.

 

 

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

Manga Review: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 24, by Mizuho Kusanagi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2020

Volumes: 32+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 23. 25.

 

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!

Review:

 

Yona and Hak are doing what they can to stop, or at least stall, the impending war. They attempt to see Su-Won, but that confrontation might be for a later time still. Instead, we get a surprise reunion with Min-Su, a surprise supporter of Yona.

Similar to Tae-Jun, who also appears in this volume, Min-Su seems to be a surprise companion for Yona. Someone who she knew before, whether good or bad, who Yona ends up influencing in bigger ways than expected.

Yona and Hak separate in this volume, off to do what they can to stall and negotiate this thing. But! Also! Surprise Yona and Hak Development! Ah!

Also! That ending! Cliffhanger!

I can't say any more about this volume, because it's all spoilers. But this was a surprisingly huge volume in progress and plot, and I'm so excited to read the next one, I cannot wait.

Manga Review: I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, Volume 2, by Kisetsu Morita, Yusuke Shiba, and Benio

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: May 2020

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

 After 300 years of a laid-back life, witch Azusa's peace is interrupted by a host of wacky challengers after the word spreads that she actually is ridiculously strong. What sort of adventures and new friends will her rapidly expanding family encounter in the next volume?!

 

Review:

 

Azusa has maxed out her level in this fantasy land, and is now living a relatively simple life with her new family, and then Halkara knocks on the door crying for help. She wants to keep her family safe, but she decides to help her hide from Beelzebub.

While there are some potential dangers and drama, this has a pretty slice-of-life kind of feeling most of the time. The girls all live peacefully in their home, they meet new people, and they travel on adventures where they usually end up helping someone. They help Halkara figure out why Beelzebub is after her. Then they help their dragon sisters family, and end up forming a truce between fighting dragon clans.

There is some fan service, but this is mostly all women in the main cast. It was a light isekai fantasy, and I didn't mind it.

 

 

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

Manga Review: Nyankees, Volume 6, by Atsushi Okada

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: May 2020

Volumes: 6.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A triggered Ryuusei hones in on Madara and strikes with a mighty cat punch, but there's more to the calico tom than meets the eye! Untold secrets and grudges are laid bare as the Nekonaki strife draws to a close in this final volume of Nyankees!

Review:

 

Jumping into this series at the very end, it was hard to follow at first. I clearly didn't know what this was about, because it took me a second to realize that the cats were being represented as the people, and that they were stray cats being represented as some kind of gang. It's very odd.

Also, I hate seeing animal violence like this, so seeing their back stories was hard to read. I don't read series like this, for this very reason. I can't take it.

Not knowing the rest of the story, it appears that all of the answers are given in this final volume. Ryuusei gets the answers he needs regarding Gekka, and finally gets some closure and a purpose.

The ending was actually pretty sweet. I liked the thoughts that we're left with, and how everything seems to wrap up.

Not necessarily my kind of story, but I imagine this was a nice ending for the people following it.

 

 

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

Manga Review: An Incurable Case of Love, Volume 3, by Maki Enjoji

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2020

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: Yes.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Nurse Nanase has striven to once again meet the prince of her dreams, so how is it he’s become such an aggravating doctor?!

After witnessing a handsome and charming young doctor saving a stranger’s life five years ago, Nanase Sakura trained to become a nurse. But when she meets the doctor again and they start working together, she finds Kairi Tendo to be nothing like the man she imagined him to be!

The mean Dark Lord has turned into a kindly knight! It’s like a dream come true! Is this really happening?!!

Nanase became a nurse to chase after Dr. Kairi Tendo. To keep herself safe from a former patient who is stalking her, she stays with Kairi and pretends to be his lover! But the stalker becomes furious and attacks! As she loses consciousness, she reveals to Kairi how she feels!

Review:

 

In Nanase's terror, and while practically delirious after being attacked, she confesses to Tendo. This starts a change potentially in the good between them. But then it doesn't quite seem that Tendo feels the same for Nanase, or even really understands what a relationship is.

This is a bit of a confusing step to me. Tendo agrees, but then almost seems asexual in his feelings for Nanase, and his interest in being romantic with her. It's very odd. Near the end of the volume, he seems to be feeling more for her, though, and he definitely gets jealous easily.

I could definitely see how some people might see some problematic themes in these series, but I also think that it's okay to feel these things. Nanase feels very strongly for Tendo, and she's stuck by that. But she's also stuck by her want to be a nurse, whether it started because of him or not. Whether this might be seen as a guilty pleasure or not, I'm enjoying this.

Manga Review: Red Riding Hood and the Big Sad Wolf!, Volume 2, by Hachoujou Arata

Rating (Out of 5): ~2

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: 2017

Volumes: 2.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

 “MY, WHAT BIG TEARS YOU HAVE!”

Love burns–especially when you’re a sensitive wolf who’s caught the eye of a sadistic pyromaniac! After incinerating Wolf’s home, Red Riding Hood has decided she’s going to marry him…but her parents have other plans. They want her to marry the lofty narcissist, Hawk, who sees Red as nothing but a pretty doll. Will it be wedding bells or wedding hell for Red Riding Hood and the Wolf? Find out in Volume 2 of this sadistic romantic comedy!

 

Review:

 

Everyone continues to torment Wolf in this final volume, whether because they want to or because he stumbles into situations in the woods. Red Riding Hood is still heavily chasing after him, including attempting to force him into a wedding.

I will say I'm glad that the ending didn't actually end in a sweet romance, though it also makes sense that it wouldn't given the comedy style. But still, I really didn't care for any of this. The humor might just not be my style, because I didn't really enjoy most of it. I also didn't particularly care for the characters, either.

I would say this was meh, but I was actually bothered by the torture of Wolf too much to even say that.

Manga Review: Kaguya-sama Love is War, Volume 13, by Aka Akasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2020

Volumes: 19+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 12. 14.

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 Ishigami make a confession of love? Who would date someone who is both an emo gamer and a former school pariah…? Meanwhile, someone is ready to confess her love to Shirogane—and it’s not Kaguya! Then Ino sabotages a romantic tour of a haunted house, Shirogane reveals some unexpected nonacademic skills, Kaguya accidentally dispenses good advice and a fortune teller foretells an ominous date for our pride-crossed lovers—no, not that kind of date. Plus heart-themed key rings, cookies, takoyaki and balloons!

But nobody turns down Stanford.

Review:

 

The school festival has finally started, and each class is focusing on their own activities. Kaguya is in a cosplay cafe, where she's idolized before being able to serve and attempt to show her tea-making skills—a surprising point of pride for her.

Chika and Shinomiya are doing balloon animals, which Shinomiya finally figured out how to do. Kaguya tries to trick him into making her a heart, though that doesn't quite go as planned. She also tries to trick him into taking a heart from her, though that also doesn't quite work. Her attempts at confessing her love without actually doing so are a bit too tricky to work, apparently.

Then there's Yu, who inadvertently confesses and doesn't know it, so doesn't understand what everyone else is going through regarding his confession. It's a debacle that he's created, and it's still unclear whether it's a good or a bad thing. I'm rooting for him, though.

Kaguya is thrown a twist at the end of the volume, but this series is still going strong, so I don't know if they're going to be doing any real confessing any time soon or not.

This series started with them treating confessing as a challenge and a competition. Now it's somehow formed into trying to trick the other person into loving them without ever acknowledging it. Trying to spend as much time together as a couple without anyone saying the words. I kind of like the change it has taken.

 

 

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

Manga Review: A Witch's Printing Office, Volume 2, by Mochinchi and Yasuhiro Miyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: April 2020

Volumes: 4+

Spoilers?: Very light.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

 Mika never imagined her "Magic Market" would be so successful! However, as the massively popular book-buying event continues to expand after each iteration, some things are bound to get out of hand!!

 

Review:

 

We meet a couple of new characters in this volume. A princess who wants to run away from home, only to discover she's a fujoshi and has this in common with her mother. Also an evil demon who wants to have a booth at Magiket. Along the way, Mika also finds a new paper cutter, and forms an agreement with a dragon for his shed skin to make books with.

I don't really understand what the timeline of these books are. There appears to be two Magikets each book, which I think most conventions are once a year, so that seems like time is very fast here. Maybe that's mirroring video game sense of time?

It doesn't appear that Mika is getting very much closer to getting back home, but it also doesn't seem like the plot is focusing too much on that part. At least up until that ending, which might bring up some new progress next time.

I'm not a high-fantasy reader, but I don't mind this series. It has some good, funny moments, and I think it's getting better.

 

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

Manga Review: Snow White with the Red Hair, Volume 6, by Sorata Akiduki

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2020

Volumes: 22.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A romantic retelling of a classic fairy tale about a beautiful herbalist and a lovestruck prince.

Shirayuki is an herbalist famous for her naturally bright-red hair, and the prince of Tanbarun wants her all to himself! The prince from the neighboring kingdom, Zen, rescues her from her plight, and thus begins their love story.

The banquet in Tanbarun arrives, and Shirayuki and Obi are dressed to impress. But it’s not all frills and lace, as Zen learns those aiming to kidnap Shirayuki have pinpointed her location. Against his brother Izana’s wishes, Zen rides for Tanbarun! But will he reach Shirayuki before danger strikes?

Review:

Everything seems to be going well, the banquet is coming up. I was clearly underestimating the importance of this guy coming after Shirayuki, because he shows up, and things go down real fast.

Zen has to make an important decision for himself and his standing when he realizes how in danger Shirayuki is. And when Shirayuki is put in such a difficult place, all by herself, she has to be strong and not let herself get upset. Since they got together so quickly, it makes sense that other important plots had to be thrown at them. But also, I think this also proves how strong as characters, and as a couple, they are. They're very strong on their own, and knowing that they have each other only pushes them to be better and stronger, knowing they can lean on each other but also do better for each other.

Near the end, when Shirayuki realizes what Zen did for her, knowing what it means for him as a prince, is so perfect. It's strong and sweet, and it means so much.

There's quite a lot happening in this volume. There also appears to be a bit of a harem forming, which I'm intrigued but also confused by. Zen and Shirayuki don't need that kind of drama.

This was a very dramatic change for me, cause while I was enjoying this series before, now I'm all in. I want the next one now, I'm ready to get caught up.

Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, A Run, Volume 8, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: March 2020

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

WHEN ALL HOPE IS LOST

For Shiva’s sake, another life must be sacrificed. Teacher thought he had steeled himself to commit the deed, but perhaps some lingering trace of his humanity stilled his hand. Unable to harm others, he realizes the only recourse is to instead sacrifice himself. But what remains once the soul is gone?

Review:

Things take a drastic turn for the worst in this volume.

When Teacher sees just what's happening with Shiva, he makes a sacrifice that no one knew he had the option of, and it completely changes his status as outsider. It changes things for her, too, since suddenly he's not the teacher she knew, and everything is thrown in motion when they're attacked again. Shiva is forced to do quite a bit of growing up, here. It's a lot for her to take.

I don't have any idea how they're going to recover after this, and it's apparently going to be a little while for another volume. I'll be waiting anxiously.

Manga Review: The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan, Volume 12, by Puyo, Nagaru Tanigawa, and Noizi Ito

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: May 2020

Volumes: 12.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 11.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The series is over-but Haruhi-chan's antics will never be!
Fueled by her now-legendary melancholy, the absurd adventures of Haruhi-chan continue, utterly unbound by the laws of reality! Cozy up under the kotatsu with Haruhi-chan and the Brigade-for as looong as you like. Take flight with Haruhi the superhero as she swoops in to save the day...on her own terms! Bask in the obligatory swimsuit chapter! All leading up to the final chapter! And the final chapter! And the stunning Final Chapter!!!

Review:

I didn't read any of the main series, nor did I watch any of the anime for this series. I've always wanted to, but I haven't. Since this volume seems to be mostly after-the-ending episodic stories and comics, this wasn't too bad.

I'm sure any fan of the original series would have enjoyed this a lot more, though. I was rather lost, as it became imperative that most of this includes insider jokes, and I was even confused by the art style since sometimes the characters would look completely different in different chapters.

I did enjoy some of the chapters, though. There's a comedic zombie scenario; a cute scene with the characters out of high school, including the main couple; and then some fun kotatsu-in-the-club-room scenes.

Still, this was an okay volume, and I am a bit curious by the different relationships between all of the characters. For people following the series, though, I'm sure this was a fun volume to read.

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

Manga Review: Black Clover, Volume 17, by Yuki Tabata

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2019

Volumes: 25+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 15. 18.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

I missed a volume, and apparently I missed some very important plot, as well.

The faeries have taken over, and now everyone is fighting each other, and Asta has only a few people with him attempting to save everyone else. It's a long and intense fight as Asta works to save a select few from the faeries in different areas, and then work together to stop them at other areas of the kingdom. This includes a short stop in the town that Asta and Yuno grew up, where they get to show how far they've grown.

There's a lot of growth in a few different relationships here, and it's nice to see. We're also shown yet again just how strong Yuno is, quite what a prodigy he is. In such a way that it's easy to believe he would become the wizard king and it would need someone very powerful to compete with him, and it makes sense that Asta would need to be strong in the exact opposite way, thus him having anti-magic.

This was actually an okay volume. I haven't been following this very closely, but this was an interesting change to see, since most of this has been much smaller-scale battles and competitions.

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