Manga Review: The Young Master's Revenge, Volume 2, by Meca Tanaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2018

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Love’s revenge can be sweet.

When Leo was a young boy, he had his pride torn to shreds by Tenma, a girl from a wealthy background who was always getting him into trouble. Now, years after his father’s successful clothing business has made him the heir to a fortune, he searches out Tenma to enact a dastardly plan—he’ll get his revenge by making her fall in love with him!

Leo has been trying to get the down-to-earth Tenma to fall in love with him, but she remains immune to his advances. When they transfer from the ritzy Genbu Academy to Suzaku Public High School, Prince Barazono issues a challenge that forces Leo to confront his true feelings!

Review:

Tenma discovers that there are public schools, and that she doesn't have to work so hard to afford the private school she's been going to, and immediately transfers. She doesn't quite understand the difference at first, or the rivalry between the private and public schools, since they have to share some field land.

Tenma is rather oblivious to her surroundings, naive, and she doesn't value herself very much. This is something that Leo is trying to fix, to make her aware of, even if he supposedly wants to do the opposite. Of course, Leo ends up saving her a lot, but Tenma has this tenacity about her, this unabashed determination, that equals them out, I think. Though now Leo has a rival who is trying to make him understand/accept his own feelings.

This series is cheesy and cutesy, and it's fun to read.

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

Manga Review: Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, Volume 3, by Megumi Morino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: March 2018

Volumes: 6.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

This funny and heartrending romantic manga set in modern Tokyo is not the fairy tale you remember! This time, Prince Charming is a teenage janitor, and this Sleeping Beauty's curse is a supernatural, gender-bending dream that threatens to pull them both into a deeper and deeper slumber...

THE SUFFERING

As Shizu begins to venture outside more and more, her days are filled with new experiences. When she shows an interest in going to school, Tetsu and the spirits dwelling within Shizu think up a foolproof plan to get her there. But when the two teens arrive on campus, they bump into Tetsu's old soccer team. Suddenly, his carefully curated life begins to unravel and Shizu may be the only one who can save him.

Review:

This volume is very about Tetsu. His past is finally catching up to him, now that he's nearing graduation, and Shizu is starting to notice. Shizu is struggling with all of her inner voices while trying to find her own, especially regarding her feelings for Tetsu and how she can help him. Tetsu has pushed away all of his friends and hobbies, and it's affected his friends and family in ways he wasn't seeing. It turns out, he needed the good-hearted childishness of Kanato to push him along.

It's a little messy, with the revelation in the middle. All of these feelings are also culminating inside Shizu. But the end result is super sweet, and it's nice to see all of his old team mates showing Tetsu how much they care.

The ending was another rather big revelation. I'm intrigued to see where it goes next, in their relationship.

Having so many people in Tetsu's life meet Shizu is also interesting, and I'm wondering what will happen with that. Her predicament is a little hard to explain, especially when Tetsu calls Shizu by each personality that takes over—that is sure to get confusing to someone else at some point.

Manga Review: Black Clover, Volume 11, by Yuki Tabata

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2018

Volumes: 17+

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 10. 12.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a world of magic, Asta, a boy with anti-magic powers, will do whatever it takes to become the Wizard King!

Asta is a young boy who dreams of becoming the greatest mage in the kingdom. Only one problem—he can't use any magic! Luckily for Asta, he receives the incredibly rare five-leaf clover grimoire that gives him the power of anti-magic. Can someone who can't use magic really become the Wizard King? One thing's for sure—Asta will never give up!

As the battle for the Forest of Witches continues, Asta goes up against a member of the Diamond Kingdom. But when a powerful mage switches sides, it may throw the whole fight into chaos.

Review:

We continue the witch's fight as this volume starts, which expands to being a fight against Ladros, where they're all trying to beat him. We get a background story from Mars here, who knows Fana and thought she had died. I will admit their story was sweet, and I quite like their relationship. Their bond was really heartwarming, and I liked their reunion.

After that, we finally see what the Witch Queen has been planning. It definitely made sense that she was up to something else, and that she wouldn't be at all appreciative that they'd just saved their village. We get to see Vanessa's history, how sad it was, and afterward, getting to see her powers come to fruition and how she gets to finally stand up for herself, is really nice. I will admit I really like her new powers, too.

This series is not one of my favorites, but I don't mind it. Since we kind of took a break from Asta and got some backstories for some other characters, I didn't mind this volume. It was actually interesting.

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

Manga Review: RWBY by Shirow Miwa

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 2018

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

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Goodreads Synopsis:

In adventures based on Rooster Teeth’s hit animation series, Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang are students at Beacon Academy, learning to protect the world from the fearsome Grimm.

When the people of Remnant aren't fighting monsters, they still find conflict among themselves. Now they are at fierce odds. Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long are Team RWBY. Together they are learning the deadly craft of hunting the monstrous species known as the Grimm.

Never before revealed adventures of Team RWBY featuring Ruby, Weiss, Blake & Yang before academy and before they were teammates. Plus, a Team JNPR battle featuring a much-younger Jaune!

Review:

I haven't seen or read anything related to RWBY before, so I went into this book with no idea what to expect.

The book starts with a little bang, and then it goes into an introduction for each character. They all get a chapter to themselves, where we find out what brought them to this point, to this school and working together. In the latter half of the volume, it brings them all back together, where we get some glimpses of their friendships and how they're growing closer, and a competition with another group at their school, and finally where they all work together to defeat a creature attacking.

Knowing so little about this series, this was an interesting volume. But it also felt rather one-dimensional. The enemy at the end, the other groups they meet with, none of that left an impression on me. Even the chapters where we met the four characters on their own felt too rushed and not expanded enough. I didn't really feel like I knew the characters very well by the end, only had a base understanding of their characters.

It was honestly a little disappointing, though I'm curious about seeing the original or reading another interpretation, as it definitely felt like there could be more.

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

Manga Review: Anonymous Noise, Volume 8, by Ryoko Fukuyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2018

Volumes: 16+

Spoilers?: Some/Light.

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Volume: 1. 6. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Music and longing collide in this ballad of unrequited love!

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Luckily, Nino reunites with Momo and Yuzu in high school, but things haven’t played out the way anyone expected…

Yuzu and Nino have been tasked with writing the debut song for a popular fashion model duo. They manage to complete their first collaboration…but to what end? Meanwhile, Tsukika goes in search of Momo, but will she be able to find him when all she has is a questionable lead?

Review:

Nino and Yuzu have agreed to write a song for this duo, and they are not quite what they expected. They give them very contrasting wants for the song, and a rather short deadline. The first couple tries they give are fine, but not what the duo want. Yuzu becomes determined to write the perfect song for them, and Nino sees something in their voices that they aren't showing.

It's a challenge, but they're determined to do it right.

Meanwhile, Momo is finally found. Both tours are drawing near. And Miou finally confronts her feelings for Yuzu and Haruyoshi. The Haruyoshi confrontation actually surprised me, but I like where they left things. I think there's still hope there, and while I feel bad for him for hanging on like this, I'm glad he's holding strong.

Of course, Nino is still between Yuzu and Momo, without realizing it. Just more torture for all of them there.

There might be confrontations coming up, there might not. It's a little hard to tell. It'll be good either way, though.

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

Manga Review: In/Spectre, Volume 3, by Kyo Shirodaira and Chashiba Katase

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: March 2017

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The new mystery thriller with a romantic edge from the creator of Blast of Tempest, and The Record of a Fallen Vampire!
Both touched by spirits called yokai, Kotoko and Kuro have gained unique superhuman powers. But to gain her powers Kotoko has given up an eye and a leg, and Kuro's personal life is in shambles. So when Kotoko suggests they team up to deal with renegades from the spirit world, Kuro doesn't have many other choices, but Kotoko might just have a few ulterior motives..."

REview:

This series is very heavy with explanation, backstory and story-telling. I suppose it makes sense, since it was a mystery novel first. And I'm glad they're keeping in all the story-telling and explanation; it takes longer to read, but it is interesting; it's not boring blocks of text, even if it is heavy.

Kotoko explains ghosts and yokai to Saki, and then Saki explains what the police know about Lady Nanase. Saki is still freaked out by ghosts, and Kuro is pretty much along for the ride. Kotoko goes to speak to a real ghost at the crime scene, and we get to rule out the actual-ghost theory out.

Near the end of the volume, we get to learn what Kuro's powers really entail, and what his limits are. Kotoko is still figuring out how to work everything to a good ending, but she's calculating it all. We draw to another cliffhanger as this is happening, as Steel Lady Nanase gets even more dangerous.

I'm hoping we get to some real action next, though this was still an interesting volume. I also really want to understand Kotoko and Kuro's relationship. He seems to be dealing with her, while she pushes herself on him. I want to know if there's more there for him or not.

Manga Review: Waiting for Spring, Volume 6, by Anashin

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: May 2018

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No

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Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A sweet shojo story of a soft-spoken high school freshman and her quest to make friends, Waiting for Spring will delight fans of earnest, fun, and dramatic shojo like Kimi ni Todoke and Say I Love You.

A MOST FESTIVE RIVALRY

In her efforts to become a more proactive person, Mitsuki has agreed to join the school festival committee. Now she must lead class in putting together a cafe for the day of the big event. Towa has agreed to help her, but his mind is elsewhere. His team is about to have a joint practice with Hōjō, and he and Aya will finally have a basketball showdown...!

Review:

The schools are having a joint practice, and it's a big deal. The boys are preparing for it, and Mitsuki wants to be there to watch. Reina also wants to be there, but to capture all the juicy BL moments.

The competition between Towa and Aya is heating up, and Aya is largely messing with them. Towa is taking it very seriously, though. I think he's also struggling with his feelings for Mitsuki, and whether he should be fighting for her like this; wanting to declare his feelings for her, and not.

Rui throws in a curveball here, as he declares that Aya isn't good enough for his Mitsuki. It's possible that Rui is developing romantic feelings for Mitsuki, but it feels more like a brotherly thing to me—he wants her to be happy, and wants her with someone who makes her happy. He doesn't think Aya is a good fit; but he might be okay with Towa.

After the joint practice, Mitsuki is overworking herself with the school festival. She's trying to impress and do her best, and it's taking its toll on her, as the cliffhanger shows.

This series feels like old-school shojo to me, dramatic and harem-y and fun. With a slow burn between Mitsuki and Towa that I love. I'm quite a big fan, and excited to see what happens next.

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.

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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: Again!!, Volume 1, by Mitsurou Kubo

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: February 2018

Volumes: 12.

Spoilers?: Yes.

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Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kinichiro isn’t even that bad. It’s just that on the first day of high school, his narrow eyes made him look shifty, so people assumed he was trouble. Now it’s graduation, and he’s looking back on three years with no friends. He never even joined a club. But after a bloody collision and an accidental fall, he wakes up a high school freshman, with the chance to try it all over… AGAIN!!

Review:

Imamura is going to his graduation ceremony, glad that high school is finally over. All of his classmates fear him and want nothing to do with him, all because of a misguided introduction when school started that was never cleared up. He has no friends, and he's glad to be over it, with all of his regrets and wonders.

Only, when he goes to an abandoned club room, gets caught by a girl, and chases after her, they fall down the stairs, and they wake up back at the entrance ceremony three years ago. It takes a while for them to realize it, and that it's not a dream. Somehow they're the only ones from the future.

Imamura unintentionally starts changing things, reacting differently with foresight, and talking to the Ouendan club leader out of curiousity. He was always curious about her and the club that fell apart, but never thought to do anything. He doesn't really intend to, either, but suddenly new things are happening, and he's making friends.

On the other hand, Aki is experiencing everything very differently than she remembers. She's having a hard time remembering that the future hasn't happened yet, and is ready to speed it up. Like her meeting with her boyfriend, who thinks she's a freak right now for her actions.

Imamura was trying to avoid it at first, but by the end of the volume, he seems determined to help the Ouendan club and find out what happened. Things are going to get dramatic and messy soon, it seems.

This is quite fun so far, and I definitely enjoyed this first volume. I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes next.

Manga Review: Queen's Quality, Volume 4, by Kyousuke Motomi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2018

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: Yes.

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Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The adventures of mind “Sweepers” continue in this supernatural romance!

Fumi Nishioka lives with Kyutaro Horikita and his family of “Sweepers,” people who specialize in cleaning the minds of those overcome by negative energy and harmful spirits. Fumi has always displayed mysterious abilities, but will those powers be used for evil when she begins to truly awaken as a Queen?

Bug handler Ataru offers Kyutaro a deal—he’ll reveal everything about Fumi’s past if Kyutaro will do what he asks in exchange. Although Kyutaro knows this must be a trap, he goes to see Ataru… What devastating effect will Ataru’s evil plot have on Kyutaro and Fumi?

Review:

 There's a big show down with Ataru in this volume, who's hoping to take Kyutaro unguarded. This doesn't work out how he wants, but it definitely opens the way for them to actually get to know Ataru and find out what, or who, has lead him to this.

After that, there's a little reprieve for Kyutaro and Fumi, as they get massages to work through their physical and mental aches.

Fumi gets a message regarding Ataru, and so her and Kyutaro go to venture into his mind, knowing they're walking into a trap and yet unable to deny doing it. They fight two tough enemies, and Fumi struggles with her inner selves, until they come to the real issue. Ataru has been mistaking Fumi for someone else, for his supposed Black Queen, and now Fumi has to face her own Black Queen in order to move forward. It's a big risk, but she has to overcome it.

I'm curious how this battle is going to end, both because it could be really bad, and because I'm wondering how it's going to be handled. Psychologically, there's a few different ways they could take this black queen plotline.

This series is so intense, and I'm really enjoying it so far.

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