Manga Review: Kaguya-sama Love is War, Volume 9, by Aka Akasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2019

Volumes: 16+

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 8. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two high school geniuses scheme to get the other to confess their love first.

Two geniuses. Two brains. Two hearts. One battle. Who will confess their love first…?!

Will Chika agree to train genius Miyuki one more time to make up for yet another of his surprising deficiencies? Then, Miyuki’s sister and father meddle in his (mostly hypothetical) love life. Are they too soon or too late? Rumors that plague Ishigami have serious personal and academic consequences. The much-anticipated, much-dreaded Sports Day finally arrives! And Chika dreams up a new game for the student council to play together—with literally explosive results.

Who cares what other people think?

Review:

Kaguya is having a hard time with her feelings of love, as her heart goes crazy and she thinks she must be dying. So she's trying to find ways to cope, including finding rituals to calm her mind.

In this volume is also the sports festival. This includes some competitions and odd miscommunication. We get to meet Shirogane's father, and Chika's father and sister. This explains some things, and creates some issues for Kaguya.

In a surprising serious-ish plot, we find out some of Ishigami's history, what led to him being on the student council and why people seem to have a misunderstanding of his character. His new understanding of it and coping with his new reality after it all, leads to him opening his eyes to the world again. It's an oddly sweet plot, and I think will give Ishigami more to work for. He's finally starting to see the people around him.

This is a fun series, and I'm glad it's expanding the plot lines a bit more. 

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

Manga Review: Boarding School Juliet, Volume 1, by Yousuke Kaneda

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 16.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

At Dahlia Academy, a prestigious boarding school attended by students of two feuding countries—the eastern Nation of Touwa, and the Principality of West—Romio Inuzuka, leader of the dorms’ Touwa first-years, wishes for a romance that can never be. For his ladylove is none other than his arch-enemy, Juliet Persia, leader of the dorms’ West first-years! Is Inuzuka ready to risk it all to confess his feelings? And even if Persia somehow agrees to go out with them, how long can they keep a forbidden relationship under wraps?!

Review:

I had higher hopes for this volume.

Two countries are practically at war, and the prestigious academies share a plot of land, though they're extremely separated. Romio is head of the black doggy side, and Juliet is head of the white cat side. They have daily battles, and neither wants to give in. But Romio has been infatuated with Juliet for a while, though of course he's not allowed to tell anyone, let alone her.

When they decide to secretly start dating, it causes some conflict in their fights.

Romio is kind of cute, how he fawns over Juliet and wants her affection. Juliet has to put on a brave face, since she's a woman in charge of her school, so it's a little harder to see whether she actually likes Romio or not. It seems like he's growing on her, but their start to dating seems more like her just giving in to appease him, a bit.

We meet a couple of other characters, and seeing Juliet's friendship with the tyrant princess adds some humanity to her character, I think. Otherwise, her side of the romance doesn't quite seem as believable.

This series just didn't really hit me. I wanted to like it, but it reminded me of Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, and I think that one does it better. So far, at least.

But to be fair, I'm also not big on the Romeo and Juliet thing?

Manga Review: My Hero Academia, Volume 20, by Kohei Horikoshi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2019

Volumes: 24+

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 19. 21.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

With All Might in retirement, Endeavor takes up the mantle of the number one hero, a position he’s coveted for years. But now that he has it, he’s not entirely comfortable with the responsibilities and risks that come with it—both heroes and villains are always gunning for number one. What does the future hold for Midoriya, and what do his dreams about One For All mean?

Review:

Deku's entire goal in this volume is to make the school festival a success—particularly, his class's concert. He wants it to be a success for the class, and he wants Eri to see it and have a good time.

And then he runs across this viral video villain who wants to cause chaos for the fun of it. I was actually surprised by these characters, their relationship and the depth put into them. It was an interesting side story to note.

I love the dynamic with Eri so, so very much. Deku and Mirio are like older brothers to her—or possibly like dads. I love it so much, and it makes me so happy to see them with her, and to see her out and exploring and learning things. It just warms my heart.

In the second half of the volume, we see an adult villain fight, with a very big surprise for Todoroki. I wasn't expecting this, and the missed potential in that relationship makes me sad for him.

This series has gotten quite intense at this point. I'm definitely hooked into the series at this point.

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

Manga Review: Daytime Shooting Star, Volume 2, by Mika Yamamori

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2019

Volumes: 12 (+Extra).

Spoilers?: Light.

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Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Optimistic high schooler Suzume moves to Tokyo and finds her heart caught between two men!

After arriving in Tokyo to live with her uncle, Suzume collapses in a nearby park when she recallsm once seeing a shooting star during the day. A handsome stranger brings her to her new home and tells her they’ll meet again. Suzume starts her first day at her new high school sitting next to a boy who blushes furiously at her touch. And her homeroom teacher is none other than the handsome stranger!

Suzume has moved to Tokyo and is living with her uncle. She soon realizes that she is attracted to her homeroom teacher, Mr. Shishio. Although she tries to deny her feelings, they only grow stronger. But then her classmate Mamura does something that leaves her speechless!

Review:

Just as the class is going on a school trip in the wilderness, Suzume is realizing her feelings for Mr. Shishio. It looks like things are going to get complicated with Mamura, though, which I don't appreciate. I love him and Suzume as best friends.

We get to know Yuyuka a lot better in this volume, too. She's harsh and rude, and somehow has formed a friendship with Suzume. Her secret mean side has pretty much been blown with everyone at this point, though it doesn't scare people away like she thought it would—or maybe wants it to, now.

I really love the group of characters in this series so far. It's only just started, too, and yet I'm completely hooked. Suzume kind of balances things out, I think, between the characters. And I really like both love interests, though I'm leaning hard toward Mr. Shishio for Suzume.

I can't wait for the next one.

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

Manga Review: Tokyo Ghoul: Re, Volume 5, by Sui Ishida

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2018

Volumes: 16.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the world of Tokyo Ghoul, sometimes the only way to fight monsters is to become one…

The Commission of Counter Ghoul is the only organization fighting the Ghoul menace, and they will use every tool at their disposal to protect humanity from its ultimate predator. Their newest weapon in this hidden war is an experimental procedure that implants human investigators with a Ghoul’s Kagune, giving them Ghoul powers and abilities. But both the procedure and the newly formed Qs Squad are untested. Will they become heroes…or monsters?!

The Qs Squad once again proves its worth by going undercover to collect vital Ghoul information, allowing the CCG finally move forward with a massive eradication campaign. But this strike pushes the Qs to their limits, bringing all their weaknesses to the forefront. And Haise is the hardest hit when his hidden past rushes forth to impact his future!

Review:

Shu, aka the Gourmet, is obsessed with finding Kaneki, and thus revealing to Haise who he is. He's determined to do this, and finally gets the will to move and start searching, to find out what happened in this gap.

There's a couple of different fights happening in this volume. Each very gruesome and horrifying, honestly. The ghoul investigators raid a discovered hide out, and these things always end in multiple deaths and some really bad circumstances, on both sides.

This series gets very dark and complicated at times, but I'm still pretty interested. I'm never really sure where it's going next.

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

Manga Review: The Ancient Magus' Bride, Volume 9, by Kore Yamazaki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: September 2018

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: Very light.

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Volume: 1. 8. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A Deal with the Devil

Elias hoped to break the deadly draconic curse that weighs upon Chise–but his methods have created a rift between them. Now Chise prepares to make a gamble of her own: What could she possibly hope to gain from a bargain with Cartaphilus? It is a time of curses cast and forks in the road. Will the paths of master and apprentice soon diverge…?

Review:

We finally get to see what happened to Chise in this volume.

As she's with Josef, there's a struggle between them. And then Chise is forced to go back and watch her past. We see when she was younger, when things were good... and then when things turned bad. The contrast feels like it should be unbelievable, because you don't want to believe that a person can change so much, can turn in such a way. But it happens. The way that it's handled, and the way that Chise overcomes it and how she is forced to accept and decide regarding it, was really well done. I appreciated her stance on what happened.

And then we see Josef's past.

It's all very sad and messy, and it results in an equally messy end. Though I think that Chise comes out of it all right, even for the better in some ways.

After all of that, it looks like a new plot line is starting. They're off to a new journey, and I'm intrigued by where it will go next.

Manga Review: Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, Volume 2, by Yuhki Kamatani

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: July 2019

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: Light.

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Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

HELP OR HINDRANCE?

Tasuku is starting to feel at home at the drop-in center―just in time for him to help a younger student who also hangs out there. Misora Shuji likes to wear girls’ clothing but is unsure about their gender identity. Will Tasuku’s guidance offer Shuji some clarity or just make things harder?

Review:

There's a really harsh moment in this volume, just as a warning.

We officially meet Misora, a boy who likes dressing as a girl. This introduces a new aspect to the story, as Misora states he's not gay, he just likes dressing as a girl—and also explores the idea of not really knowing who he is yet. He's younger than Tasuku, and gives Tasuku a moment to help and be there for someone going through something similarly difficult.

It all goes down when Tasuku and Misora go out to a festival. Misora is confronted with a harsh part of being a woman, and he doesn't quite handle it well—not that anyone should, really. But he reacts by blowing up at Tasuku, in a very public, harsh way.

I appreciate the point of view that Misora presents here, but I don't particularly care for the way he talks. He's very brash with his words, which perhaps Tasuku needs. He blatantly uses the word fag, and how he treats Tasuku when he freaks out is just not okay. It was a really hard moment to read.

It also looks like Tasuku's crush is going to do something in the next volume. It's unclear where he stands on these things, but I suspect we'll find out soon.

I am really glad that this is being released. I think it's an important story. Plus, the artwork is gorgeous—I love the imagination used here. And those color pages at the beginning of this volume are just gorgeous.

Manga Review: Black Butler, Volume 27, by Yana Toboso

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: January 2019

Volumes: 28+

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 26. 28.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Three years prior, on his tenth birthday, Earl Ciel Phantomhive lost everything...but he was not alone. From the attack on the Phantomhive manor to the moment the contract with a certain devil was made, Ciel starkly recounts all that has come to pass...leaving all who bear witness breathless!

Review:

We finally get the full story in this volume. We see what happened that killed the other Phantomhives, what happened to Ciel's twin, and how he was led to create the agreement with Sebastian, the devil.

It's an interesting new look at Sebastian and Ciel's characters. Ciel was just a child, and he was put through unspeakable things, to the point where he would do anything to survive, and was put in a situation that makes survival the only option. Sebastian has always been a rather upstanding butler, with only glimpses of his real power and the real devil inside him. We get to see quite a bit more of that in this volume. We see his formless demonic self, in pieces, and we get to see him negotiate terms with Ciel. While he usually seems to be on Ciel's side, he is also a smart, manipulative demon.

This still leaves the present quite a mystery. While we know what happened on Ciel's side up to this point, it doesn't answer how his twin is currently alive and back at the mansion.

While I know that this plot could be too much, too cliché or whatever, it doesn't bother me. I think the depth put into it, the dark reasoning and everything combined with how it's shown, works. At least for me. I'm still very much into this series, and look forward to the next volume.

Novel Review: Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: 2017

Spoilers?: Yes.

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

What do you do when you’ve fallen for your best friend? Funny and romantic, this effervescent story about family, friendship, and finding yourself is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.

Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings, Abby isn’t going to take any chances.

Which is where the list comes in.

Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list, she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being.

But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems... and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself.

The Cover:

This cover is super cute. I like that it shows the museum aspect, since it's such an important part, and then the couple and the font is just super cute, all without being too embarrassing.

Review:

For a long while in this book, I really thought it was going in a particular direction, and had accepted that. Which made me conflicted when it went somewhere else in the end—even though that was the direction I originally wanted.

Abby is an artist, and she's trying to get accepted to art school and get her pieces put in an art show at the museum she works at. When she's told that she doesn't have enough experience—enough life experience—she decides to make a list and do some new things, challenge herself a little. Most of her friends are away for the summer, which leaves her with only Cooper, her closest friend and whom she's had a crush on forever.

I typically really like list-related series. They're fun to me and add some interesting challenges/plots for the characters, and I'm a list kind of person. I will admit the list took to the background a bit in this book. It was still fun and made Abby put herself out there, but it wasn't as important as it is in some books.

I also really liked Cooper, and am always a sucker for friends-to-lovers stories. For a really long time it felt like their relationship was going in one direction, because Cooper was fighting it so hard and Abby was still recovering from a failed earlier attempt. But their relationship was so close, and it was clear when they both became jealous, that it didn't make sense for it to end any other way. There was no way that Cooper didn't feel the same way for her, he was insane for thinking otherwise.

West's books are either just okay or a real hit for me, and this one was sadly the former. I did really like parts, particularly Cooper and Abby's relationship. I also liked Abby's parents and family situation, and completely understood when she got upset at what her father did and how her family reacted/let her down. But there were still parts that were just okay to me. This was more fun than not, but not a favorite at this point.

Manga Review: The Water Dragon's Bride, Volume 9, by Rei Toma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2019

Volumes: 11.

Spoilers?: Light.

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Volume: 1. 8. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the blink of an eye, a modern-day girl named Asahi is whisked away from her warm and happy home and stranded in a strange and mysterious world where she meets a water dragon god!

Kurose and the god of darkness conspire to take control of the emperor of Naga’s throne, and they have no qualms about using Asahi to do it! Worried for Asahi’s safety, the water dragon god decides it’s best to return her to her former world, but does Asahi want to go?

Review:

The god of darkness is still working against Asahi, but she's back in the village for the moment. It feels okay, up until a war breaks out.

Asahi wants to do everything she can to stop this, to talk sense into people, but it doesn't appear to be working. At the same time, she's become aware of the Water Dragon in a new way, and is having a hard time being too close to him. The Water Dragon doesn't understand it, and doesn't seem to know what his feelings represent, though he's not too bothered by it. He's fine going along with his whims, though Subaru has caught on.

There's only a few volume left, and I'm really curious to see how this series wraps up, and I really hope it's not rushed.