Manga Review: Missions of Love, Volume 3, by Ema Toyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: April 2013

Volumes: 15+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In class, she's a sort of zoned-out girl, and he's the year one class' most perfect, good-looking guy. But the two of them have a secret, and their extraordinary "love experience" will start now!

Himuro Yukina, known as the "Absolute Zero Snow-woman" is a cold and observant girl. In addition, she is actually a popular cell phone novelist who goes by the name of Yupina. Sadly, with no other human contact than her cousin, Yukina is unable to express more romance in her novels. Kitami Shigure, your so-called "typical bishounen", who is really a womanizer, has fallen into Yukina's trap when she blackmails him, and they end up "love-acting" for the sake of their secrets.

Review:

I am enjoying this series more now, and I am determined to get caught up in it, but I’m still waiting to be enraptured in the story. I’m just not really feeling Yukina’s character, or as much of the romance as I should be.

I am enjoying the romance, and even liking the love triangle (and forming square), even if I’m not connecting quite as much as I could be. I like the potential I see in all of the characters, and I’m enjoying what I’ve gotten so far, but there just isn’t enough for me yet.

I like Akira—he seems like a sweetheart to me, if a little possessive. I like Shigure, although he’s frustrating me. Shigure and Yukina are definitely oblivious to their actual feelings, or in denial of them, which I hope doesn’t last too much longer.

We got some family background for Yukina and Akira, and I liked that; I also just like Yukina’s parents and find them absolutely adorable. I’m intrigued by the new girl, Mami, and look forward to officially getting to know her in the next book. I know that the romance is going to get heavier, or at least more physical, in later books, and I look forward to that, being the romance junkie that I am.

I’m looking forward to being completely enraptured in this series, and I feel like it’s coming—I just can’t wait to get there.

Teaser Tuesday[105]: Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Release Date: 2010

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a band after an impromptu, Portishead-comparison-worthy jam after school. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

Excerpt:

“My knees gave out and I slid against the wall until my tailbone hit the floor. I nuzzled my face into my knees and exhaled a breathy scream. The tightness in my throat unraveled some, but there was so much left. So much I wanted to say and couldn’t.” (Hardback, pg. 164)

What are you reading right now?

Manga Review: Nisekoi: False Love, Volume 3, by Naoshi Komi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2014

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s hate at first sight... Rather, a knee-to-the-head at first sight when Raku Ichijo meets Chitoge Kirisaki! Unfortunately, Raku’s gangster father arranges a false love match with their rival’s daughter—who just so happens to be Chitoge! However, Raku’s searching for his childhood sweetheart from ten years ago, with a pendant around his neck as a memento, but he can't even remember her name or face!

When Chitoge transfers into Raku's class, they're forced into a false love relationship to keep the peace between their feuding gangster families. Everyone at school's fooled by their act—even Raku's crush, Onodera! Raku wants Onodera to know the truth, but he just can't seem to find a way to tell her. Meanwhile, the ever-vigilant CLAUDE sends his protégé Tsugumi to watch over Raku and rescue Chitoge from his evil intentions. What chance does Raku stand against a highly trained assassin?!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

Review:

This series is a bit much at times, but it’s still rather enjoyable. It’s a very fluffy harem series.

There’s a storyline with Tsugumi, Chitoge’s bodyguard, who is actually a girl. I like her so far. Then there’s a chapter where Raku is sick and Chitoge and Onodera come over to take care of him and make him food, when neither one of them can cook.

The key and lock storyline is getting complicated. I was perfectly happy with the solution  being Onodera had the key, but now Chitoge has one, too, and hers is sounding more like his, even though I think it looks wrong. It also looks like the characters are pushing off finding the answer, which I don’t particularly like (although it doesn't surprise me).

And then the group goes on a school trip, and Raku is surrounded by the three girls. There’s a bath scene that is just way over the top, and a little too long. It was funny, I guess, but it was mostly too much for me. It was ridiculous. (But my brother would probably find it hilarious.)

Now the harem part: I think it’s a little repetitive how all three of them react the exact same to Raku. But I am enjoying getting to know the characters, and I do actually like all of them. Few series does it seem like all of the girls are necessary, nor do I like all of them; or the guy just doesn’t seem worth it. But here, I like all of the girls. I’m not even sure who I’m rooting for at this point, because I like them all so much. And Raku is a very good main character. He’s nice, if a little embarrassed, but a very likeable characters. That in itself makes this series stand out to me.

I am really enjoying this series, and I look forward to the next volume.

Manga Review: Loveless, Omnibus 4 (Vols 7-8), by Yun Kouga

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: July 2013

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: Omn 1. Omn 3. Vol 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Deluxe 2-in-1 editions of the best-selling series, a masterpiece tale of intrigue and innocence lost.Ritsuka Aoyagi is alone in the world—never fitting in at school and alienated from his own past by a fragmented memory. When his beloved older brother is brutally murdered, Ritsuka is heartbroken but determined to find answers. His only lead is Soubi, a mysterious, handsome college student who offers him an intimate link to his brother’s other life: a dark and vibrant world of spell battles and secret names.

Before Ritsuka and Soubi can demand answers from Septimal Moon, the organization behind everything, Seimei undergoes a macabre resurrection! Ritsuka finally asks what he should have from the start: was Seimei a good person?

Includes 50 pages of never-before-seen bonus comics!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

Review:

This series is intense, and messy. This volume was a bit messy in plot, so I’m really not going to go into detail.

Quite a bit happened, for all of the characters, though, including some backstory. I’m really enjoying the development of Soubi and Ritsuka, and their relationship. There are a lot of other characters, too, and I’m having a hard time remembering their names, but I am mostly liking seeing them develop. I feel bad for Ritsuka, and am eagerly waiting to see what happens with him and his brother. I’m not really liking his brother right now. And I feel kind of terrible for Soubi.

Also, I love both of them.

There’s a lot happening in this series, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where it goes to next. 

Oh, also: I’m kind of going to miss the omnibus editions. Surprising, but I like how big they are, all the color pages and extras. I know there are some in the single volumes, but still. I kind of grew fond of these ones.