Manga Review: King of Eden, Volume 1, by Takashi Nagasaki and Ignito

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: September 2020

Volumes: 6.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Entire villages are going up in flames across the globe, with the same man left standing at the scene every time. Meanwhile, rumors abound of a highly contagious virus where those infected fly into a blind rage, killing anything and everything that crosses their path. As the death toll rises, agencies from nations around the world get together, looking for answers-How are these incidents connected? Who is that man? And most importantly...can the massacres be stopped before humanity is doomed? 

 

Review:

 

A mysterious man keeps showing up right before these small towns come down with this terrible killing virus and then burn to the ground. The government and scientists aren't sure who's behind it all, or what this virus really is, but they're pulling in some scientists and archaeologists to go after the answers.

There are a lot of different people moving around in this series, what with the different government officials and the different black market sellers of the virus, plus the different villages being experimented on and then set on fire. But we do get two main characters, Rua and Teze, who coincidentally were classmates a long time ago. Rua is a very smart historian and archaeologist, and she's pulled in because she's familiar with the history of where this virus potentially originated. Then there's Teze, who appears to know a lot more about this virus than anyone else, from personal experience.

The virus is definitely a horrifying thing, with how quickly it transforms people and what wolf-like monsters they become, plus the potential of it being a weapon. But it also has a really deep history that I'm intrigued by. There's a lot of real history being woven into it, some theories that are thrown out there and some that are clearly going to turn out to be true. It's a historical sci-fi that I'm more intrigued by than I expected, since I don't usually get into the deeper historical ideals.

The artwork was really good in this, and that along with the writing set up a really good thrilling and ominous feel to the story. There are a lot of characters already, but we are getting to know the main ones slowly, but enough to help the story along.

While this might not usually be my type of story, I could get into it. It was really well written and kept me interested, and reminded me of some similar thriller/horror movies.

 

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

Manga Review: Attack on Titan, Volume 5, by Hajime Isayama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: June, 2013

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume 1. Previous Volume. Next Volume.

Goodreads Synopsis:

CAN YOU GO HOME AGAIN?

Thanks to Eren, humanity has taken the town of Trost back from the Titans. Exhausted, Eren falls into a coma for three days – and wakes in shackles, staring at Erwin Smith, leader of the Survey Corps. Certain that Eren’s father’s research holds the key to the mystery of the Titans’ rise, Smith wants an expedition to retrieve it from the house where Eren grew up. But that’s deep in Titan territory, and to get there Eren will need to master a power he still doesn’t fully understand…

Review:

The world of this series is just expanding every volume, and I’m loving it. We meet a character named Ilse in this book, who has some really interesting information on the titans. Then Eren’s fate is decided, and everyone gets to choose what part of the army they want to join. And then there’s an attack on the titans/exploration/test of the land.

So much is happening! We’re finding out so much about the titans, there’s so much violence, and it’s all just so exciting. And horrifying. I think this is one of the few books that I’ve read where I’m truly horrified by what’s happening. I mean, I get freaked out rather easy, but a lot of violence in books isn’t as bad as what’s in this one.

 I’m really interested in what’s happening with Eren, as well as Mikasa (just because I like her so much) and Armin. I really like Captain Levi, and am intrigued by him. There was a really bad cliffhanger on this volume, and I really want to find out what happens next.

I love the world that this is set in. It’s just so interesting to me. I want to know more, more, more! We found out some really interesting things about them this volume, and I’m looking forward to more in the next volumes. Also, I want to know exactly what makes certain titans different, and how they can tell so easily. 

This series has easily made it to my favorite list, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next volume.

Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Book 1) by Carrie Ryan

3 of 5 Stars

Publisher: Delacorte Books (Random House)

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Review:

 

This is a weird book. That's really all I can think about it, actually. That it's weird. Granted, I haven't read very many zombie books, or seen much about it, but it's still weird.

The main character, Mary, lives in a fenced off village in a zombie apocalyptic world. (Kind of like The Village?) And she's 'in love' with one boy but has to marry his brother, and even though she wants to do something about it, she doesn't. And the Sisters practically own the village, and at one point she gets thrown in seclusion and takes a vow of silence. Throughout all of this, she believes that there are people beyond the fence, and she's trying to find out what's beyond it without the Sisters knowledge.

And then she gets out when the zombie's attack and fences fall and the village people freak out. She gets out, following a trail lined with more fence, with her husband and the boys she actually loves and his wife, who is her friend. There's a lot of traveling and zombies and death.

Mostly this book was just alright to me. I didn't not like it, but I didn't particularly like it, either. Mary was alright. I didn't get too much of a sense of her character, and I wouldn't really want to be friends with her, from what I did get. She wasn't much of a strong heroine. And the whole marrying the other guy because it was easier wasn't... a very good idea.

A lot of the book is them traveling and trying to find a safe place to be. And there's quite a bit of death. The end made perfect sense, but it wasn't really satisfying. Although I don't know what would have been satisfying. And I don't know if I'm going to read the next one. I probably will at some point, but it might be a while till I do. The writing seemed a little... distant, and slow, which isn't bad. But I have to be looking for that style in order for it to keep my attention, and I haven't been, I guess. The world that she created was... unique, with the religious parts and all. But I'm not big on the religion or zombies. The next one has different characters, though, so maybe I'll like it more.