Manga Review: Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale, Volume 2, by Chie Shimada

Rating (Out of 5): ~1.5-2

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2018

Volumes: 2.

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Beautiful boy rebels using their fists to fall in love!

Hinako thought she didn't have any family, but on the day she starts high school, her twin brother Hikaru suddenly appears and tricks her into taking his place. But the new school Hinako attends in his stead is beyond unusual. Now she must fight her way to the top of Shishiku Academy, an all-boys school of delinquents!

Hinako takes her twin brother Hikaru’s place at Shishiku Academy for boys. Fights break out every day, but there are also lots of heart-palpitating events with the boys that she never expected! And as the battle to be the boss of the school rages on, will Hikaru make it to the top?

Review:

Going into this volume, I had no idea that it was the final volume. And I only found that out by looking it up online—that ending leaves me unsatisfied.

Hinako meets her older brother in this volume, and she's surprised and very excited to find out that she has a brother who seems to dote on her. She's discovering family she never knew she had, and it's exciting for her, even if he doesn't realize she's Hinako and not Hikaru.

There's some light fighting and fooling around, leading up to Totomaru getting hurt and his father pulling him from school. This leads to a typical angst where Hinako wants to do something, but Totomaru won't tell them what's really happening, up until he's about to fly away.

It's a sweet reunion, but the whole plot didn't worry me, because they always end the same. And then the series just ends—on an uplifting note, I suppose, but still just an end to the volume. It feels more like an end to an arc, or one plot point, not the whole series. There's no conclusion to the romance, or the guys finding out she's a girl, or even what's going on with her real family since they don't seem to know or care that she exists.

It didn't feel at all like an ending, and it left me feeling lackluster. Not to mention that none of the characters had felt fleshed-out yet, and so the characters and plot felt weak. It just leaves me disappointed and underwhelmed.

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

Manga Review: Kamikaze Girls by Yukio Kanesada and Novala Takemoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~2 (~2.5, maybe)

Publisher: VIZ Media (Shojo Beat)

Volumes: 1

Spoilers?: Yes

VIZ Media Synopsis:

Momoko is a Lolita stranded in the boondocks of rural Ibaraki prefecture, although she'd much rather be living in the Palace of Versailles. Ichigo is an impulsive member of a girls-only biker gang who firmly believes in honor, loyalty, and fist fighting. Together this unlikeliest of duos strikes out on a journey to find a legendary embroiderer who might just be able to make their dreams come true.

Inspired by the cult-classic novel by the same name, this exclusive manga edition of Novala Takemoto's Kamikaze Girls contains several brand new stories, including a continuation of Momoko and Ichigo's misadventures that was approved by the author himself!

Review:

I believe I have stated this before, but I love VIZ Media. More specifically, Shojo Beat. They are, by far, my favorite manga provider. I have read most of their releases, save for, probably, a handful, and you could probably see that I’ve reviewed more of their books than any other companies.

I realized, somewhat recently, that I’d missed some of their older one-shots. At the time, I guess I just had little interest in them, and then had mostly forgotten about them. Upon seeing this volume at the bookstore, though, I decided to pick it up. And was a bit disappointed.

The main reason I hadn’t picked this one up before, I think, was because of the artwork. I’m usually very picky about this; if I don’t like the art, I don’t want to read it. For this one, I thought, I’ll give it a try anyway; it’s only one book.

The art style didn’t really get any better. It wasn’t bad, and I guess I kind of got used to it, but it was definitely not my favorite.

The storyline I also didn’t particularly care for. The main storyline, two chapters, was about Momoko, a Lolita girl, who decides to help Ichigo, a yanki girl, find this certain store. On the way, they go to this Lolita store, where Momoko drags Ichigo into helping the owner with this modeling thing. And then in the second chapter, Ichigo has to face this crush she has on a boy that’s marrying a friend of hers, while forming a relationship with the boy’s brother.

None of this sounds too bad, but the whole thing just jumped much too quickly. Their friendship formed at a reasonable pace, and I can look past the two girls helping with the modeling thing because, even if it annoys me, it’s a typical thing to happen. But the love thing I did not like.

Momoko has reason to like the guy who owns the Lolita shop, but that didn’t really seem to go anywhere; at least, it didn’t show us if it did. But Ichigo fell in love with this yanki guy upon first sight and after having a very tiny conversation, in what was the most unbelievable bout of insta-love I have ever seen. And of course Momoko can tell, and then Ichigo has a hard time getting over it when she finds out that he’s marrying her yanki friend, a girl who she looks up to. And then she starts getting close with the guys brother, and I didn’t really believe their relationship either.

The general plot didn’t bother me, and it could have been good, but it just wasn’t done very well.

After that, there was another short story, one chapter plus a tiny extra. I had hoped it would be better, but it really wasn’t.

Titled Koyubi Hime (The Pinky-Ring Princess), it’s about a high school girl who ends up forcing this older guy into a date with her, and then falls for him. My biggest problem with this, is how the girl forced the date. She kept something of his to force him into it, claiming to want to be an adult, act like an adult, be treated like an adult, when she was obviously very childish. And then her ending resolution on that just didn’t fit or resolve anything on that matter. Not for me, at least.

At first it bothered me that he’d agreed to the date, and did some stuff with her, when he was supposed to be married, and why she would do this with a married man. But then it turns out he’s actually divorced, which I’d expected, and then that makes me wonder why he agreed to go out with this high school girl when he didn't care about the ring. It was just… dumb. It was all just dumb and I didn’t enjoy it.

The extra story, only a few pages long, was about their relationship later, and it was rather cute. It was probably my favorite part of the book. Didn’t really make up for the rest of it, but, you know, was still pretty good.
I probably wouldn't read another of Kanesada's works, and don't really have much interest in the novel this was based on, even though I'm sure it's better. I do plan on getting another of Shojo Beat's one-shots if I find one like I did this one, though.

Review: The Littlest Cowboy (The Texas Brand, #1) by Maggie Shayne

Genre: Contemporary Adult Romance

Rating (Out of 5): 2-2.5 (maybe)

Publisher: Harlequin Books (Silhouette Books)

Spoilers?: Minor-ish

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sheriff Garrett Brand finds a baby on his doorstep.

While his siblings joked that maybe he wasn't such a responsible guy after all. Garrett knew he was nobody's daddy. But the Texan was intent on discovering the identity of the little cowboy's mama.

All Chelsea Brenna wanted when she arrived at the Brand ranch was her nephew...and answers about her sister's mysterious death. But she never expected a rough and rugged lawman to act like a proud father and lavish the baby with love.

Review:

This is a pretty generic, typical adult romance. Shayne tends to write that way, some books better than others. Her books seem to remind me, a little bit, of what you would expect from a typical lifetime romance movie. Nothing too surprising, nothing amazing, just pretty general, even though there's supposed to be all this suspense and someone after them and all that.

I don’t know if it’s just that this series is different from the last one I read, or if this is an earlier book of hers, or if I’d read too many of her books with the same set-up, or what, but I didn’t really enjoy this one. Much at all, really.

This book is about Garrett Brand, the oldest brother in a big family, who took care of his siblings after his parents died. He’s the town sheriff and he’s seen as a good, responsible boy, until a baby is dropped at his doorstep with his name. And then Chelsea Brennan storms the house, looking for her nephew.

I liked the characters, enough. Garrett I did enjoy, for the most part, and Chelsea wasn’t too bad, and I always like stories with babies, and those scenes were fun. She did do a big, typical heroine move that drives me crazy, but was in character for her. I liked all of Garretts siblings, and do want to find out what happens to them next.

There was just no surprise, though, nothing that excited me, with this book. And the one thing that has happened in pretty much every books of Shayne's that I’ve read, and that has annoyed me, is how everyone in the family has to help with the crisis. Chelsea and the baby are in trouble, and of course Garrett loves her and everyone knows it pretty instantaneously, and so everyone has to help her. It doesn’t matter that they don’t know her very well. Although I will excuse that they want to help, because it's a good thing to do, and because the baby is also involved, whom they all love as well. And then when Garrett tries to send his family away, to make sure they don’t get hurt (which can be debated on whether was a good or bad move, and which I would say was a dumb one), of course none of them listens and they are all right behind him. It’s just annoying how they all have to charge in and save the two, and they do it so well, because they’re just so amazing in a bit of an exaggerated way. Also, of course, it has to end with the ‘hero’ (Garrett, in this case, although sometimes maybe it's the girl and/or someone else important) getting shot but living through it.

It’s just… almost the same thing, every time, and it can get really annoying, what with how overused it is. And it's trying to be suspenseful and exciting when it's not; I was not kept at the edge of my seat, wanting to know what happened next. I was trying to hurry to the end of the book, just so I could finally be done with the damn thing.

I wanted to like this one, and I didn’t. I really want to read the next ones, just more of Shayne’s books, but now I’m hesitant to. I’m hoping that maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for this, and that maybe this one was just a weaker books of hers. I think I’m going to try another one, but I might give myself a little time before I do.

Manga Review: Oresama Teacher, Volume 6, by Izumi Tsubaki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Media (Shojo Beat)

Volumes: 14+

Goodreads Synopsis:

Reads R to L (Japanese Style). The student council's very own ninja, Shinobu Yui, is set on destroying Mafuyu's club. He thinks he can take it down by taking on Mafuyu, but he didn't count on the power of her alter ego, Super Bun! Besides, Mafuyu really has better things to do with her time, like attempting to be a regular high schooler and beating the secrets out of her teacher, Mr. Saeki.

Review:

I really like this series, but it’s just… kind of slow. And isn’t leaving too big of an impression, after I’ve finished each volume. I like the characters, it’s really funny. But after I’ve finished each volume, the specific things from that book just doesn’t stay with me. I’m not sure why, and this is really kind of bothering me. Especially because I really do like this series.

I actually read this one a couple weeks ago, which might be part of why it’s not so fresh in my mind, but it shouldn’t be as much of a blank as it is.

Anyway, from what I remember, this volume was quite a bit more serious than previously, which was surprisingly nice. It had a lot of focus on the Public Morals Club and the Student Council. The student council does not like the public morals club, and so they are having a bit of a rivalry at the moment. This lasts for a bit, then Mafuyu has some miscommunication/troubles with Hayasaka and Mr. Saeki. She tries hanging out with some girls, which is something she’s always wanted to do and she enjoys, but decides she’d rather have Hayasaka’s company. And so they make up, and she decides to have a talk with Mr. Saeki (Takaomi? I haven’t decided what I want to call him yet).

That’s when, in the last chapter, we get a bit of a flashback and see that Saeki is close with his Grandfather. She chases him for a bit, then they have a talk, and we get some insight into the bet he made with the principal. Turns out, the school is what he wants, because it was important to his Grandfather.

At the end of the volume, we get some comic strips with Shinobu, the member from the student council that Mafuyu was ‘fighting’. They’re funny, as they usually are, I just don’t think I know the characters they focus on enough. I know enough about Shinobu, but sometimes they show characters we saw for maybe a chapter, and so I have almost no clue who they’re showing me is.

Similarly with how a lot of stuff just erases from my mind about each book: there’s just such a skip around, with funny chapters, but ones that have little to do with the main story and with characters that I have little recollection of; a lot of subplot, which I really don't mind. And, I don’t know if there is in later or were in earlier volumes, but there wasn’t a ‘previously on’ or character descriptions at the beginning of this book, which is not good, because I have such a hard time remembering all of the character’s names.

Ah, well, whatever. I have the next volume, so I plan on reading it soon, and not waiting too long to review it as well. See you then, or something.

Manga Review: Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Volume 7, by Arina Tanemura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Media (Shojo Beat)

Volumes: 10+

Amazon Synopsis:

Sakura is the granddaughter of a mysterious moon princess who slew demons with her Blood Cherry Blossom sword. All her life Sakura has been forbidden to look at the full moon without knowing why. Then one night, unhappy over her impending marriage, Sakura gazes up at the moon, only to see a demon attacking her...
Every time Asagiri uses her powers, she shortens her life span. In spite of this, she continues to use her powers to fight her former lover, Ukyo. Though Ukyo will not attack her, this is a fight Asagiri cannot win.

Review:

I haven’t really been a huge follower of this book, and I’m not sure why. It just hasn’t grabbed my attention, or kept my attention, as well as I would like it to. I read it, and I’m starting to remember what happens in each volume better, but I don’t think about it much after I finish it. It doesn’t seem to be leaving much of a standing impression, I guess.

The first chapter of this volume continues showing Asagiri and Ukyo’s story, which I actually enjoyed quite a bit. I found that I liked them, and that their relationship is right up there with Hayate and Kohaku’s relationship, which is still my favorite. My liking of them definitely made what happened between them even worse, and I was really not happy about it. This carries into the next chapter, where Aoba and Sakura have been reunited and they are all running away, trying to get out but end up being caught by Enju (Sakura’s somewhat-evil brother).

Within these chapters, there are some moments that I will not explain in depth, but that make me dislike Enju even more. He’s just… I don’t like what he’s doing to Sakura. There’s a point where she can choose to turn her back on him, and while she should openly fight with him, I understand why she doesn’t. Even though he’s not the same person she knew, he is still her brother, and that’s hard to turn away from.

There’s some fighting between everyone, and Sakura ends up in this mirror world, where people that are killed by her sword go or something. While there, she finds out that Enju has been working to get the pieces of Princess Kaguya back together, which is kind of a bad idea. Mostly she’s upset because she thinks Kaguya will be replacing her, but otherwise I’m not sure what to think of it. I didn’t think Kaguya was a bad person (is she, and I just haven’t been paying attention?), but I’m curious as to what she is like, especially because this doesn’t sound like it could be good in any way. And we got to see her, kind of, and that was definitely creepy. Maybe it’s just that the whole, bringing people back from the dead is a bad thing? ‘cause I know it is.

Then Fujimurasaki (the emperor or whatever) shows up and they all run away as the ‘bad guys’ hide out is set on fire. The volume ends with Sakura promising to defeat Enju, which is good, but makes me wonder what is going to happen next, since apparently it’s moving into a new story arc.

After that, there are some comic strips showing the other team (the ‘bad guys’ or whatever), in which they are goofing around and doing human things, while not being very human. It was entertaining, but a little weird to see all of them acting comically, when I have only seen them serious and fighting thus far.

Again, this doesn’t seem to be giving me much of a longing impression, but I do mostly enjoy the books when I get them. I’m not even thinking about stopping the series or anything (I have read all of Tanemura’s previous published books, and don’t intend to stop with this one; besides, I am enjoying it), but I hope that it starts getting better, and I begin enjoying it even more and feeling more strongly about it.

Review: Party by Tom Leveen

~4 of 5 Stars
 Publisher: Random House 

Goodreads Synopsis:

It's Saturday night in Santa Barbara and it seems like everyone is headed to the same destination. The reason is simple: to celebrate the end of school. But for eleven different people the motives are bit more complicated—to be noticed, to hook up, to make friends, to numb the pain, to get over an ex, to say goodbye. As each character takes a turn and tells his/her story, the eleven individuals intersect, reconnect, and combine in ways that none of them ever saw coming.

Combine the poignancy of Thirteen Reasons Why with the energy of films like American Graffiti, Dazed and Confused, and Sixteen Candles and you get Party—a sneak peek into the lives of contemporary teens over the course of a single night. Alternating points of view and the timeless setting of an end-of-school party make this a compelling read. Those who pick it up cannot put it down.

Review:

I was a bit surprised by how much I liked this book. It's a short story in lots of points of views, and it's really good. Very well written, and all of the characters are interesting.

It's about a big party at the beginning of summer, and what is happening to all of these entwined people. All of the characters are really well written, with their own style and voice. There's a fight, and people getting drunk, and best friends being betrayed, and a small wreck, stupid boys and girls, and also a very cute boy, and a depressed girl. Lots of things happen.

I especially liked Beckett, Josh, Max; Morrigan was interesting; and what happened in Ashley's chapter was a very good, satisfying conclusion, even if I did want more of the characters. And I did want more. I wanted to know what happened with Beckett and Max, and with Josh and Morrgan, and what happened to Beckett in general now that she's patched things up with Ashley.

I really liked this book, and it was much deeper, while also very adorable in certain parts, than I thought it would be. Books about parties and with multiple points of views like this one has are usually not as well done as this one, so I was a bit surprised and very glad about it.

It would be amazing if Leveen wrote a follow up novel, but I'll just be content to read his next book.