Manga Review: He's My Only Vampire, Volume 1, by Aya Shouoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: December 16, 2014

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

You are my "thrall"--mine and mine alone...
When Kana, a student at St. Agatha Academy, lays eyes on her long-lost childhood friend Aki amid the throng of the metropolis, the gears of destiny begin to turn!
Meeting with an unfortunate accident not long after, Kana finds herself pulled from the arms of death by a vampire--Aki. Now Kana must give herself over to Aki, body and soul, as his "thrall," and soon she is trust into a dangerous game to obtain demonic powers known as "STIGMA," which could very well spell the end for her all over again!

Review:

I’m pretty sure this is a newer of Shouoto’s series, and the art does look a little different. It also didn’t pull me in quite as much as Kiss of the Rose Princess did. I’m still sticking with it, though.

The vampire plot is a little dark already, with some underground things already clearly happening. There is some explanation, but I’m sure there’s more to come.

We meet Kana, an overachieving high school girl, who was friends with these boys when she was younger. Then one of them, Aki, shows up. He saves her by biting her, turning her into his thrall, now the only one he can drink from. He has some hidden goals, though. We meet one of Kana’s classmates, who is entwined in this, though ends up in a rather cute position.

I’m intrigued, a little confused, but definitely picking up the next one. I like what I’ve seen so far, and am curious to see what happens next. I especially look forward to getting to know the characters more.

Manga Review: Demon From Afar, Volume 1, by Kaori Yuki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: December 16, 2014

Volumes: 6

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An imperial capital in an era of splendor and romanticism...Orphaned in an earthquake, Sorath is taken in by Baron Kamichika, the lord of "Blood Blossom Manor." There, he pledges eternal friendship with Garan, the Baron's heir, and Kiyora, Garan's fiancée. But their friendship turns grisly by events none of them could foresee. The tender feelings each secretly harbors, the machinations of Baron Kamichika, and his strange and seductive female companion, and a fateful encounter with a young girl with bizarre powers...all draw them to the Walpurgis Night and the nightmare's climax!

Review:

I know that this isn’t a selling point for Kaori Yuki, but I always find her storylines a little confusing. They are messy and complicated and gothic, and they get confusing to me, almost always. But I still say, unashamed and completely honestly, that I love them, and will always come back to them.

This series is being released in hardback, with a color page, and thick pages, and I love it. It’s a beautiful book, and definitely worth picking up.

This series stars three childhood friends; the rich one (Garan), his betrothed (Kiyora), and the friend he saved (Sorath). We meet them, see how close they are, see some hinted darker things going on. And then things turn real dark, real fast, with demons. Sorath is the main character here, with a possibly surprising heritage, and some serious betrayals happening. There’s also a doll made to life that I’m really intrigued by. 

I don’t even know what else to say about this. It’s surprising and messy and dark; the art style is beautiful and gothic. I really enjoyed it, and am really looking forward to the next one.

Manga Review: Love at Fourteen, Volume 1, by Fuka Mizutani

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: December 16, 2014

Volumes: 4+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Middle schoolers Kanata Tanaka and Kazuki Yoshikawa are mature beyond their years, perfect model students admired from afar by classmates and teachers alike. But when school's out, these two childhood friends can let loose as average fourteen-year-olds, fresh in the throes of puberty, adolescence...and the persistent, bittersweet pangs of first love.

Review:

I wasn’t too sure what to expect when I started this—mainly how mature it would be, or how cute it would be. I was sure it would be good, though, and it was.

Kanata and Kazuki are mature for their age, and they put on a more conservative and serene air when at school with their classmates. When together, they’re themselves, more goofy and relaxed. And slowly falling for each other.

This makes it increasingly hard for them to figure out how to act, having the two worlds intersect, mixing things up in their heads.

There’s a lot of cute scenes here, how they don’t react in class, but then comment later together. Like when Kanata’s hair is done during class, and later Kazuki gives her a surprise kiss on the neck before fleeing. Or during art class, when Kazuki volunteers Kanata to model so she won’t have to draw, only to blush as he realizes he has to then draw and stare at her.

We also meet a classmate who catches them, and teases and blankmails Kazuki, only for the tables to later be turned on him.

This is a very cute, pretty vanilla volume. It was charming and subtle and thoughtful. I really enjoyed it, and look forward to the next one.

Manga Review: My Neighbor Seki, Volume 1, by Takuma Morishige

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Vertical Comics

Release Date: January 13, 2015

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads

RightStuf Synopsis:

Toshinari Seki takes goofing off to new heights. Every day, on or around his school desk, he masterfully creates his own little worlds of wonder, often hidden to most of his classmates. Unfortunately for Rumi Yokoi, his neighbor at the back of their homeroom, his many games, dioramas, and projects are often way too interesting to ignore, even when they are hurting her grades.
Story and art by Takuma Morishige.

Review:

I’m so glad I picked this up, as I almost didn’t. But it was a good price, and it sounded cute. And now I’m definitely on board.

This series consists of short chapters, where Yokoi tries to study and pay attention in class, but consistently gets distracted by her classmate Seki, who is goofing off in extreme measures at his desk next to her. Seki makes a game of chess into a tyranny play, and Yokoi gets very invested. He brings in cats. He makes a thousand cranes, only to have an origami frog eat them. He makes a crochet cactus, only to take it apart when Yokoi falls for it. There are misplaced feelings, and looks of hate exchanged.

This volume was adorable. The way Yokoi gets so invested, how they both make this huge story of what he’s making, without a single word exchanged, is lovely. And then when one thing gets messed up, and one of them glares at the other.

I did have a hard time figuring out what grade they’re in. The way they act, and the things they do, make me think they’re in middle school, maybe, but then Yokoi will be drawn with large breasts, and that makes me think they’re older. The two things don't seem to fit together all that well. I don’t know if it says and I missed it (possible), but it’s bothering me.

Still, this was a fantastic little volume. It was very cute and very funny, and I will definitely be picking up the next one.

2014 End of Year Book Survey

I know this is a little late, but it’s still early in the new year, right?

2014 End of Year Book Survey:

Stats:

1. Number of Books You Read?:

359. Within that, 126 Novels.

2. Number of Re-Reads?:

 I don’t know, maybe 3? I don’t re-read much.

3. Genre You Read the Most From?

If manga, shojo. Also, just manga in general. For novels… probably contemporary.

Books:

1. Best Book You Read in 2014:

Oh God… Isla and the Happily Ever After, Ignite Me, Cress, The Dream Thieves, Crash Into You, Dare to Surrender...

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Maybe A Little Something Different. It sounded so good, and it definitely wasn’t bad, but it just wasn’t as outstanding as I thought it would be. Not That Kind of Girl would be another one.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?

Either Roomies, which I just thought would be okay and ended up being one of my favorites, or Not That Kind of Girl, which ended up being not as powerful as I expected.

For manga, possibly NightS, because I hadn’t expected it to be so well done.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?

I don’t generally push books on people, because I don’t know anyone who really reads… but it would probably be the Shatter Me series or the Lunar Chronicles, both of which a friend borrowed.

5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?

Started: Either the Lunar Chronicles or the Raven Cycle. I don’t know what took me so long.

Sequel: Ohhh, either Cress, The Dream Thieves, or Crash Into You (if that one counts).

Ender: Ignite Me. No competition there.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?

Staying with YA, probably April Henry, although maybe Patty Blount as well.

Going into Adult/Erotica territory… maybe M.Q Barber, and definitely Cherise Sinclair. And Bella Andre.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Hm… I don’t think I stepped out too much. Maybe The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by 

April Henry. I don’t normally read mystery, but it was very good. Oh, Anna Dressed in Blood, as well.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

I’m going to go with Ignite Me. I don’t think I read many action-packed series, but this one flew by.

9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Crash Into You. Maybe Isla and the Happily Ever After, as well.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?

Oh god… there are some pretty covers. Probably Cress and Ignite Me. Those two are just beautiful.

11. Most memorable character of 2014?

Rachel from Crash Into You. Juliette from Ignite Me.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

While I feel I have to mention Maggie Stiefvater (books I read in 2014: The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Sinner), because her writing is just beautiful in all ways and is everything I strive for, I loved Tahereh Mafi’s writing at possibly the same level, if not more. It’s just pretty in a whole other way.

Although, maybe In the Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo is also worth mentioning for this?

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

Hmm… I’m going to say Some Boys by Patty Blount.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read?

Cinder. The Raven Boys.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?

I’m really bad with remembering quotes and all that, so I’m going with this one:

"'This isn’t about Adam or Warner,’ I tell him. ‘This is about me and what I want. This is about me finally understanding where I want to be in ten years. Because I’m going to be alive, Kenji. I will be alive in ten years, and I’m going to be happy. I’m going to be strong. And I don’t need anyone to tell me that anymore. I am enough, and I always will be.’” From Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi.

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

For manga, Tokyo Mew Mew Omnibus 3 is the longest.

Novels: Cress is the longest, at 550 pgs. For the shortest, I really have no idea, so I’m going to say Candy Store by Bella Andre, at maybe 120 pgs.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most:

Maybe Allegiant. I still don’t know how I feel about the ending.

For manga though, either InuX Boku SS (oh my god, the ending of volume 4 still kills me), or a close runner-up of Attack on Titan, because a few of those volumes really got me.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!):

Oh no, how is this even a possible... Well, all of them in Cress. Rachel and Isaiah in Crash Into You, always.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year:

Cinder and Thorne in Cress. Juliette and Kenji in Ignite Me (I will go down with their ship) (can Juliette just be my OTP? Just on her own, as a person? Please?).

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously:

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater. All of Kiersten White. Unravel Me and Ignite Me from Tahereh Mafi. What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick. Crash Into You by Katie McGarry. Pivot Point and Split Second by Kasie West.

21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

I don’t get a lot of recommendations, honestly… So I’m not sure. Maybe Not That Kind of Girl? Although I didn’t enjoy that one… I technically started Attack on Titan in 2013, but I started it because of the buzz, and absolutely love it now…

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

Isaiah from Crash Into You.

23. Best 2014 debut you read?

I actually don’t think I read any debut novels in 2014? I don’t know how that’s possible?

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

I don’t read a lot of fantasy, so probably Cress. With Ignite Me very close behind.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Oh god, for manga this list would probably be a mile long. (Strobe Edge, Kimi ni Todoke, Library Wars, Happy Marriage?!, Manga Dogs…) For novels, probably Isla and the Happily Ever After, or My True Love Gave to Me. Also, all the Cherise Sinclair books.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?

I don’t think I read too sappy of books this year. I got teary eyed once in Attack on Titan, and felt like crying with Inu x Boku SS. And I got teary eyed (oddly enough) from Masterof the Abyss by Cherise Sinclair.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Either Some Boys by Patty Blount, Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando, or maybe In the Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Inu x Boku SS volume 4. It killed me.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?

In the Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo. With the pictures and writing, it was lovely.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Probably Sass andSerendipity, because the characters were so… horrible.

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014?

I don’t think I really discovered any new blogs this year. But, since I got a smart phone this year, I did discover how useful following blogs on email is. Which means I started reading ones I’d previously followed more. Mostly The Starry-Eyed Revue, WondrousReads, Cuddlebuggery, and a favorite for manga, Manga Bookshelf.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014?

This feels like an impossible question, given how many reviews I post. I think I did a good job with Ani-Imo 1 and Some Boys? Inu x Boku SS 4?

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

I don’t post much non-review stuff on my blog. I enjoy doing the Wishlist Thursday’s, though. In December I did two top ten-type things, and I enjoyed those.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, 

etc.)?

I think the only event I went to this year was one for Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo? Usually I go to Wordstock, but there wasn’t one this year. Still, I’ve seen Kiersten White a few times now, and she’s always great.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

I’m pretty sure it would be when I received a novel review copy. I don’t have a big following, and am very bad at communicating with people, but I finally started sending out review copy requests, and I actually got a few review copies this year. I started getting manga review copies last year, but got even more of those this year. Those are the best, and excite me every time.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Um, I have no idea how to figure this out. So, I think it might have been on my Olympos review? (I figured it would be a Wishlist Thursday or Attack on Titan review. Huh.)

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Uh, any of my reviews?

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

I just, the last few weeks, discovered Book Outlet. But also the Barnes and Noble membership, as well as their Manga Monday deals. Total score there. At this point, the manga Mondays are where I get almost all of my Yen Press and Vertical titles.

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

The only one I really partake in is Goodreads’, and I way surpassed that from my hopes and previous goals.

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

Oh god, all of them? My two left review copies, definitely, but also Gayle Forman’s Just One Year. Finally getting to that one! Also, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, because what’s wrong with me?

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?

So many! Huntley Fitzpatrick’s The Boy Most Likely To, Sarah Dessen’s Saint Anything, Kasie West’s Fill-InBoyfriend, and the final Lunar Chronicles book, for sure.

3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Why are there so many good books!? There are a dozen to choose from, so I’ll just say The NightWe Said Yes.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

The Lunar Chronicles ending, definitely. But also The Raven Cycle, assuming it comes out this year, and Maureen Johnson’s final Shades of London book.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

I would like to make my blog look better, but I don’t know if that’ll ever happen. Maybe get another non-review post started? And participate in the community more?

Also, definitely cross-post more of my reviews!

6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

I don’t get very many of these, but I have read Gayle Forman’s IWas Here. And I loved it. Definitely recommend!

Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading. :)

-Jude