MARS volume 15

Today's review is on MARS volume 15 by Fuyumi Soryo. As it is the last in the series you need to have read the first 14 to understand the story. It is published by Tokyopop. The cover is painting that Kira did of Rei at the beginning of the series. There is no sex, no language, and violence in this volume. The intended reader is young adult but there is enough teen drama and the like that adults can enjoy it too. The story is told from Kira's perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A Happy Ending?!

Are those wedding bells ringing for Kira and Rei? They still definitely want to tie the know, but there are tons of obstacles in their way. When Masao gets out of the hospital, he tries to harm Rei and sabotage Rei and Kira's special bond. Plus, Rei's issues about his past are preventing him from building a successful future with Kira. Can everything be resolved in time for Kira and Rei to finally walk down the aisle? All 14 previous volumes have been leading up to this spectacular, action-packed finale...

Review- The blurb for this volume really tones down what Masao tries to do. He stabs Rei multiple times and almost kills him. Rei does find peace with Masao and Sei. Kira and Rei do get married and Rei is going to be a professional racer. So all well that ends well. As an overview of the series it has a lot good with some bad. The art is top notch. The story is excellent, with character growth and development. The plot does get a little over the top sometimes but as it is a series about teens for teens of course everything is over the top. This is considered one of the most popular girl's manga in Japan ever. I normally do not go for real life stuff. I like fantasy, science fiction, or other genre stuff but this is a good story. In the end if the story is good then people will read it, always. I have enjoyed my re-read of this series and I remember why one of my best friends just loved it.

I give this volume and this series a Five out of Five. I get nothing for my review and I bought this series with my own money many years ago.

Capital Dames: The Civil War and the Women of Washington 1848-1868

Today's post is on Capital Dames: The Civil War and the Women of Washington 1848-1868 by Cokie Roberts. It is 512 pages long in notes and is published by HarperCollins. The cover is an art piece with a party of top and the Capital building under the title. The intended reader is someone who is interested in history, women's history and the Civil War Era. There is no sex, some mild language, and no violence in this book. The story is told mostly through first person resources like journals, newspapers, and letters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- With the outbreak of the Civil War, the small, social Southern town of Washington, D.C., found itself caught between warring sides in a four-year battle that would determine the future of the United States. After the declaration of secession, many fascinating Southern women left the city, leaving their friends- such as Adele Cutts Douglas and Elizabeth Blair Lee- to grapple with questions of safety and sanitation as the capital was transformed into an immense Union army camp and later a hospital. With their husbands, brothers, and fathers marching to war, either on the battlefield or in the halls of Congress, the woman of Washington joined the cause as well. And more women went to the capital city to enlist as nurses, supply organizers, relief workers, and journalists. Many risked their lives making munitions in highly flammable arsenals, toiled at the Treasury Department printing greenbacks to finance the war, and plied their needlework skills at the Navy Yard- once the sole province of men- to sew canvas gunpowder bags for the troops.

Sifting through newspaper articles, government records, and private letters and diaries- many never before published- Roberts brings the war-torn capital into focus through the lives of its formidable women. Compelling social history at its best, Capital Dames concludes that the war not only changed Washington; it also forever changed the role of women in American society.

Review- This was a great and interesting history book. I learned and enjoyed this book so much. It was easy to read, with lots of interesting people, and about very interesting time. The notes in the back are useful but you do not need them to make the narrative make sense, the notes are just for more reading and where Roberts got her information. I knew very little about most of these women. I knew about some of them but for example I knew next to nothing about Mary Lincoln. I did not know that she was not liked in Washington, that she had a terrible temper, or that she died penniless and still disliked. There is just so much information in this book that I cannot give it all the room it deserves. The men in these women's lives are important but they really have very little to do with their stories. This is about what power the women of Washington had at a time of great need. If you enjoy historical nonfiction then you will enjoy this book.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I was given a copy of this book by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

MARS volume 14

Today's post is on MARS volume 14 by Fuyumi Soryo. As it is the 14^th in the series you need to have read the first 13 to understand the story. The cover has Rei on it looking at the reader. It is published by Tokyopop. The intended reader is someone who likes teen drama, plot heavy stories, and more teen drama. There is some mild language, implied sex, and violence in this volume. The story is told from Kira's perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Happily Ever After?!

Rei has been working hard to become the man his father wants him to be. But even though he's stuck in a cubicle, his heart is still always on the racetrack. Kira knows that Rei is suffering solely so that he can support her, so she appeals to Rei's father to encourage Rei to follow his dream. Will Rei's father finally be supportive of Rei's Need for Speed?! Meanwhile, Kira and Rei just heard that Masao has just been released from the psychiatric ward. No one knows what this psychopath will do next...

Review- Rei's father is a very important to this story in this volume. He talks to Kira about why he does not want Rei to race professionally. It is because that is how Rei's real father died. Mr. Kashino is afraid of losing Rei too. Now Rei and Mr. Kashino do not talk about that because that would be too easy but at least they are both willing to talk to Kira. Masao is just a small plot point that will no doubt become much bigger in the last volume. I like that Mr. Kashino has grown over the few books he has been in. He went from demanding, unloving step-father to man who really does love Rei and wants what is best for him and is afraid of losing more of his family. The way that he and Kira interact in very interesting and far more telling than anything that Rei ever said about him. One more volume of drama left.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this with my own money many years ago.

Lost Covenant

Today's post is on Lost Covenant by Ari Marmell. It is the third in his Widdershins series. It is 277 pages long and is published by Pyr books. The cover is white with Widdershins in black on a stone wall. The intended reader is someone who is interested in high fantasy, humor, strong female characters, and good writing. Everyone about 13 and above would enjoy this book and series. There is some mild language, no sex, and lots of violence in this book. The story told in third person perspective of mostly Widdershins but sometimes other characters for plot growth. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- It's been six months since the thief Widdershins and her own personal god, Olgun, fled the city of Davillon. During their travels Widdershins unwittingly discovers that a noble house is preparing to move against the last surviving bastion of the Delacroix family. Determined to help the distant relatives of deceased adoptive father, Alexandre Delacroix, she travels to a small town at the edge of the nation. There, she works at unraveling a plot involving this rival house an a local criminal organization, all while under intense suspicion from the very people she's trying to rescue. Along the way, she'll have to deal with a traitor inside the Delacroix family, a mad alchemist, and an infatuated young nobleman who won't take no for an answer.

Review- Just like the other two Widdershins novels I loved this book. Widdershins does not do as much growth in this one but she does make peace with things. She blames herself for what happened in the last book as she is running away. Because she is away from home we get to see what is going to come in the next book. Marmell has not done foreshadowing in the other books but iftis everywhere in this one. I wish that there was more than one more book in this series but it has been so solid. The writing, the plot pacing, characterization, setting, everything about this series is just great. One problem that I have with the blurb is the young nobleman does take no for an answer. The problem is that Widdershins does not know what he is asking until the last few chapters in the book. When she does, she says no, and he backs off. He is still interested in her but he is not being pushy.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Finding Samuel Lowe: China, Jamaica, Harlem

Today's post is on Finding Samuel Lowe: China, Jamaica, Harlem by Paula Williams Madison. It is 288 pages long and is published by HarperCollins. The cover is a patchwork of pictures of the author and her family. The intended reader is someone who is interested in family history, looking for oneself, and interesting memoirs. There is talk of sex and rape, language, and violence in this book. The story is told mostly from the first person perspective of the the author with bits in third and other first person perspectives for added depth. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Thanks to her spiteful, jealous Jamaican mother, Nell Vera Lowe was cut off from her Chinese father, Samuel Lowe, when she was just a baby, after he announced he was taking a Chinese bride. By the time Nell was old enough to travel to her father's shop is St. Anne's Bay, he'd taken his family back to China, never learning what became of his eldest daughter. Bereft, Nell left Jamaica for New York to start a new life. But her Asian features set her apart from her Harlem neighbors and even her own children- a difference that contributed to her feelings of loneliness and loss, which she instilled in her only daughter, Paula.

Years later, with a successful corporate career behind her and the arrival of her only grandchild raising questions about family and legacy, Paula decided to search for Samuel's descendants in China. With the support of her brothers and the help of encouraging strangers, Paula eventually pieced together the full story of her grandfather's life, following his story from China to Jamaica and back, and connected with three hundred surprised relatives who were overjoyed to meet her.

Review- This is a very drawing account of one woman's search for her mother and herself. With great care and determination Madison finds out what happened to her grandfather and why it affected her mother so. Madison gives only her mother's and grandfather's story but her own. It is a very moving account a family that should have been apart. Madison ties everything back together in the end. As this is a first book I normally feel that I have to give the author some room but Madison did everything right. She hit the right emotional tones, she feels honest and forthright. I hope to see her name on more books, not just memoirs but whatever other stories she has floating around in her head. I recommend this book.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I was given a copy of this book by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Dead and Detection and Created Modern Crime

Today's nonfiction post is about The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Dead and Detection and Created Modern Crime by Judith Flanders. It is 556 pages long including notes and is published by Thomas Dunne Books. The cover is black with a skull and the title in white. The intended reader is someone who is interested in history, crime, and well written books. There is some mild language, talk of sex, and detailed violence. Because of the tone of the book adults would get the most enjoyment out of this book. The story is told in third person with first person letters and dairies for added depth. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Murder in the nineteenth century was rare. But murder as sensation and entertainment became ubiquitous, with cold-blooded killings transformed into novels, broadsides, ballads, opera, and melodrama- even into puppet shows and performing dog acts. Detective fiction and the new police force developed in parallel, each imitating the other- the founder of Scotland Yard gave rise to Dickins's Inspector Bucket, the first fictional detective, who in turn influenced Sherlock Holmes and ,ultimately, even P. D. James and Patricia Cornwall.

In this meticulously researched and engrossing book, Judith Flanders retells the gruesome stories of many different types of murder, both famous and obscure: from Greenacre, a man who transported his dismembered fiancee around town by omnibus, to Burke and Hare's body-snatching business in Edinburgh; from the crimes (and myths) of Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper, to the tragedy of the murdered Marr family in London's East End. Through these stories of murder- from the brutal to the pathetic- Flanders builds a rich and multifaceted portrait of Victorian society. With an irresistible cast of swindlers, forgers, and poisoners, the mad, the bad, and the utterly dangerous, The Invention of Murder is both a mesmerizing tale of crime and punishment, and history at its most readable.

Review- This is one of the best written nonfiction books I have ever read. This could have been dry or too scholarly but instead it is a fantastic read. It is scholarly but not over-overwhelmingly so. The footnotes are interesting and at times funny. The notes in the back are just for additional reading if that is something you want to do. Flanders takes the reader from the beginnings of the justice system in England and talks about how it changed and why. This leads the reader to how policing, crime, and justice have changed and why. Flanders gives us a very insightful and interesting read about one of the most popular genres in writing. She talks about the beginnings of the detective story and how far we have come in 100 years. This book is not for the faint of heart. Flanders does not spare details about how the criminals were treated or about the murders themselves. After reading this the next time I hear someone complaining about more better things were in the past I have a few new choice things to tell them about the good old days and one of them including a human scalp wallet.

I give this book a Five stars out of Five. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

The Oversight

Today's post is on The Oversight by Charlie Fletcher. It is the first in his Oversight Trilogy. It is 434 pages long and is published by Orbit. The cover is a dark green getting light as smoke moves up it with a hand in the center just under the title. The intended reader is someone who likes steampunk, historical urban fantasy, and deep plots. There is some mild language, talk of sex, and lots of violence in this book. Older teens and adults will enjoy this book the most. The story is told from the third person close of many different characters both heroes and villains, giving the reader is best insight into all of them. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Only Five still guard the borders between the world.

Once the Oversight, the secret society that polices the lines between the mundane and the magic, counted hundreds of brave souls among its members. Now their number can be tallied on a single hand.
As the borders between the natural and supernatural begin to break down, brutal murders erupt across London, and the fellowships enemies draw ever closer.
Will a screaming girl brought to the Oversight's headquarters be the instrument of their final downfall or their last, best hope of defense?

Review- This book was excellent. The characters were interesting, the plot was good, and the writing was very good. I really like that this is historical urban fantasy. I say that because it happens in a Victorian London, so we have the historical and the urban in one go. Fletcher really plays that up. We have the Fae dealing with urbanization of the countryside. The heroes are of course going up against more powerful foes who have waiting for generations to get revenge on them. The magic in this world is interesting and I hope that we can get more into that. The book ended in a good place. Some questions are answered, some characters still in peril but everything in place for the next book. I borrowed this book from my library but I think that I will be picking it up to own.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

MARS volume 13

Today's post is on MARS volume 13 by Fuyumi Soryo. As it is the 13^th in the MARS series you need to have read the first 12 in order to understand the story. It is published by Tokyopop. The cover has Rei on it looking at the reader. The intended reader is young adult, likes teen drama, and more drama. There is no sex, some mild language, and violence in this volume. The story is told from Kira's perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Skeletons in the Closet.

Rei slowly remembers more and more events from his childhood. But when Rei tried to talk to his father about his revelations, he doesn't get the answers he is searching for. After doing some investigating on his own, Rei discovers the truth about his mother's mental illness and the shocking secret behind her mysterious death. The complicated relationships within Rei's family are bought out into the open as Kira unearths some secrets of her own...

Review- This volume continues the family drama from the last one. Kira really is not in this volume it is about Rei and his father dealing with the past. Kira still does not know what to do with the knowledge that Sei killed himself with the intent of Rei killing himself too. Rei gets to know more about his mother and both of his fathers. There is some hints about plot twists for the last two books but mostly about tying up lose ends. As the manga comes to a close, Soryo does so much with her plot and characters. But I will give a overall review of the series when I finish it. I like how Rei's character has grown over the course of the manga. At the beginning he would have never thought to question any of his memories of his mother but now he is not only doing that but he is seeking out answers for the odd things around him. He listens to his father and is not afraid to hear the hard answers. But more drama is coming!

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

No Place like Oz and The Witch Must Burn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today's post in is on the two prequels to Dorothy Must Die which are No Place like Oz and The Witch Must Burn by Danielle Paige. Together they are 225 pages and are published by Harper Collins. The intended reader is someone interested in how the world got to how it is in Dorothy Must Die. There is some mild language, no sex, and some violence. The stories are told from first person perspective of Dorothy and Jellia. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From Goodreads- No Place like Oz: After returning to Kansas, Dorothy Gale has realized that the dreary fields of Kansas don’t compare to the vibrant landscapes of Oz. And although she’s happy to be reunited with Aunt Em, she misses her friends from the yellow brick road. But most of all, Dorothy misses the fame and the adventure. In Kansas she’s just another prairie girl, but in Oz she was a hero. So Dorothy is willing to do anything to get back, because there really is no place like Oz. But returning to the land she left comes at a price, and after Dorothy is through with it, Oz will never be the same.

The Witch Must Burn: Dorothy Gale is back . . . and she’s not the sweet little heroine of Oz anymore. She’s power-hungry and vicious, and she leaves a trail of destruction beneath her spike-heeled, magical shoes. But behind the scenes, there’s someone else pulling the strings. Someone who doesn’t want fame or glory—just control.
Glinda of the North brought Dorothy back to Oz for a reason. And in The Witch Must Burn, a young maid is about to discover that a witch who says she’s Good might be the most dangerous kind of Wicked.

Review- It is a thing now for writers to write this novellas to their books. I have not read any of them before and these two did not change my mind. I have not read any before because I believed that if something was really important it will be in the book. I was right. These two are not bad. The stories are just fine but they really do not add anything to the overall story arc. Yes it was interesting to learn that Glinda summoned Dorothy back to Oz because Ozma will not be easily controlled but it unneeded to read the book. The second one about Jellia was not as interesting. Again the writing was fine but nothing was really added. But now I have done the read the novellas thing and I will not be doing it again.

I give these two novellas a Three out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novellas from Amazon with my own money.

The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames

Today's nonfiction review is The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird. It is 416 pages long including notes, index, and bibliography. It is published by Crown. The cover is orange-red with a Arabic newspaper and coffee in the top. The intended reader is someone who is interested in history, spies, and the middle east. There is no sex, some mild language, and violence in this book. The story is told from third person with first person interviews and other first hand documents. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The Good Spy is Pulitzer-Prize-winning biographer Kai Bird's compelling portrait of the remarkable life and death of one of the most important operatives in CIA history- a man, who had he lived, might have helped heal the rift between Arabs and the West.

On April 18, 1983, a bomb exploded outside the American embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people. The attack was a geopolitical turning point. It marked the beginning if Hezbollah as a political force, but even more important, it eliminated America's most influential and effective intelligence officer in the Middle East- CIA operative Robert Ames. What set Ames apart from his peers was his extraordinary ability to form deep, meaningful connections with key Arabs intelligence figures. Some operatives relied on threats and subterfuge, but Ames worked by building friendships and emphasizing shared values- never more notable than with Yasir Arafat's charismatic intelligence chief and heir apparent Ali Hassen Salameh (aka “the Red Prince”). Ames's deepening relationship with Salameh held the potential for a lasting peace. Within a few years, though, both men were killed by assassins, and America's relations with the Arab world began heading down a path that culminated in 9/11, the War on Terror, and the current fog of mistrust.

Review- This book sounded so interesting but it is so bogged down with details that it is hard to really stay with the narrative. With very long chapters, details upon details about people that you never read about it again, and long passages of descriptions this is not an easy read. I know very little about how the Middle East so I was hoping to not only learn about a long lived spy and about the region during a key point in time but that is not what I got. Yes I did learn some about that and some about Ames but it is so long that I had to force myself to finish this. I think that if this book was edited down to half it would be so much better and easier to read. The notes are just references to outside sources that added really nothing to the narrative. Because of how long and really boring this book I would not read any of the books Bird used as outside information. I will not be reading Bird again. I do not care if he has won a Pulitzer-Prize.

I give this book a Three out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given this book as a gift.

MARS volume 11

Today's post is on MARS volume 11 by Fuyumi Soryo. It is the 11^th in the series and it published by Tokyopop. The cover has Rei on smiled at the reader. The intended reader is young adult but all the teen drama adults can get a kick out of it too. There is implied sex, violence, and mild language in this volume. The story is told from Kira's perspective with some of Rei's actions added in for character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Back to the Future.

Rei and Kira's love for each other couldn't be stronger. But in the world the live in, love isn't always enough. When Rei drops out of school, he focuses on his dreams of becoming a professional motorcycle racer. However, those dreams are threatened when Kira's stepfather re-enters the picture and attempts to sabotage Kira and Rei's serious plans for a future together. When Kira's stepfather relentlessly campaigns for Kira's acceptance, Rei is forced to turn to the last person in the world he would ever ask for help: his father. Can Kira and Rei's love overcome these obstacles?

Review- The drama in this volume is very serious. Kira's stepfather, who raped her, wants her to move back into with him and her mother. Kira stands up to him which is good character growth for her. Rei has a moment of compassion for the man but the stepfather will not take No as an No still. The plot in this volume is very quick. It is about Kira and Rei refusing to bend to a abusive person. Rei's father does want what is best for him. We do not get to see his face but Rei's father wants Rei to be successful in life. He helps them both get away from Kira's stepfather. The thing that stands out in this volume is Kira's character growth. She stands up to her rapist and tells him what he is. Her stepfather does not think that he raped her. He thinks that he loves her. Kira now know that is a lie. Good for her. Only four more volumes to go before I am done with fun teen drama series.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own.