Wishlist Thursday[148]: Shuriken and Pleats by Matsuri Hino

Shuriken and Pleats 1 by Matsuri Hino

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 1, 2016

Volumes: 2.

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

Goodreads Synopsis:                           

When the master she has sworn to protect is killed, Mikage Kirio, a skilled ninja, travels to Japan to start a new, peaceful life for herself. But as soon as she arrives, she finds herself fighting to protect the life of Mahito Wakashimatsu, a man who is under attack by a band of ninja. From that time on, Mikage is drawn deeper into the machinations of his powerful family.

Why?:

Matsuri Hino is one my favorite mangakas; I love her artwork and her characters. While I did enjoy Vampire Knight, MeruPuri is still one of my favorite series and one I re-read often. I can’t wait to read this one. I don’t even care what it’s about, honestly. I will always pick up her series.

What’s on your list?

Manga Review: Noragami: Stray God, Volume 10, by Adachitoka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: January 26, 2016

Volumes: 15+

Spoilers?: Some.

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

Volume: 1. 9. 11.

Goodreads Synopsis:

BACK FROM THE DEAD
Yato is still trapped in the underworld and Izanami is doing everything in her power to prevent his escape. The only one capable of helping him now is his old nemesis Bishamon. Will she find it in her heart to rescue her hated foe? Or is there another way?

Review:

The end of Ebisu and the restart is hard on all of the Gods, but Yato in particular. Because he just fought with him, and helped him choose to live. And now Ebisu has started all over. Yato has a hard time accepting this.

Then there’s how Bishamon is the one who helped Yato, and how Yukine and Hiyori had to stay behind and wait and worry, only to find out that Yato hasn’t been all that honest with them. It’s definitely a betrayal to Yukine, who Yato should be relying on the same that Yukine relies on him. It’s hard to take that Yato would be using a stray, and I’m curious to see what evil plans his father is up to. It’s definitely bad, and hurtful to Yato.

This series is just so good. There’s a lot of serious in this volume, but then there are a couple extras at the back that are just hilarious. It’s a nice mix, and the author knows how to balance it out perfectly.

I can’t wait for the next one.

Teaser Tuesday[190]: The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

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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The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

Genre: Contemporary Romance; Pride and Prejudice Retelling

Publisher: Touchstone (Simon and Schuster)

Release Date: 2014

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Based on the Emmy Award–winning YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Twenty‑four‑year‑old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters—beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight.

When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck‑up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets—and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on‑screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera—from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents’ unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future—and whom she wants to share it with.

Featuring plenty of fresh twists to delight fans and new readers alike, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet expands on the web series phenomenon that captivated a generation and reimagines the Pride and Prejudice story like never before.

Excerpt:

“Really, between the Jane and Bing super-team and the scheduled Darcy run-ins, I can’t wait to go home.

Please, please soon.” (Paperback, pg. 120)

What are you reading right now?

Manga Review: Deadman Wonderland, Volume 12, by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: December 2015

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 11. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Framed for the brutal murders of his classmates by the mysterious Red Man, middle school student Ganta Igarashi finds himself sentenced to death and sent to the bizarre and fatal theme park/prison that has risen from the ruins of the Great Tokyo Earthquake—a hell on earth known as “Deadman Wonderland.”

Thanks to Ganta returning to the battle, Senji narrowly escapes death battling Toto Sakigami. Still, Toto’s power is so overwhelming they remain at a disadvantage. Using a clever strategy, Ganta is able to land a timely strike against Toto, and Senji quickly follows up by slicing him along with the building. Toto is assumed to be crushed to death by the collapsed structure, but is he?

Review:

We finally get some real backstory on Rinichiro/Toto and Yosuga. And, of course, it’s really sad, and bloody. I feel bad mostly for Toto in this, and while I’m not particularly happy with what Yosuga does, I see why. She misses her friend, in the same way that Ganta misses Shiro.

There’s a lot of fighting—a very big fight scene between Ganta, Senji, and Rinichiro, and then another between the group and Rinichiro. Rinichiro is literally insane, and it’s horrible, and I want to see him go down. We only get a glimpse of Shiro in this volume, and it’s not good. We also get a surprising revelation about Ganta’s power, which could be really bad.

We’re left with a cliffhanger, leading up to the big conclusion in the next volume. I can’t wait. I just hope it’s not too horrible.