Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 1

Today's post is on Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 1 by Masami Tsuda. It is 176 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The cover has Yukino, the main female lead, on it. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo, high school manga, and humorous love stories. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Yukino Miyaqzawa has it all- perfect grades, looks, the admiration of her peers. She's the #1 student at her school... at least she was until he showed up. The new boy, Soichiro Arima, one-ups her in every department. And the worst thing about it is that he's sincere! With her ego in jeopardy, Yukino will do whatever it takes to regain the spotlight, but falling in love was never part of the plan.

Review- A cute and funny high school romance. Yukino's inner thoughts are great but I wanted more from Soichiro. Towards the end of the volume we get to see some into his tragic past but I want more character development from him in the next volume. Yukino has some great development in this first volume. And I believe that her changes are real. She has to deal with someone getting to see the 'real' her that she is not proud of and what that means to her. Of course young love makes everything more dramatic but it was a fun read and I am looking forward to seeing where this long series goes.

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.

Magic Burns

Today's post is on Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews. It is the second in her Kate Daniels series. It is 260 pages long and is published by Ace Fantasy. The cover has Kate and Curran on it with a magic flare in the background. As it the second in a series you need to have read the first one to understand the story. The intended reader is read the first one, likes urban fantasy, and salty heroines. There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told from Kate's first person perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Down in Atlanta, tempers – and temperatures – are about to flare…
As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.
When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest – and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive…

Review- I really enjoyed this novel. The story was interesting, I like Kate, and the world is great. I like Kate Daniels and I know that many other readers do not feel the same way. She is an interesting character. Maybe I just trust the authors but I think that she is believable. The plot was very interesting and so much world building was done in this novel. We get to see more of the way things work and more of different kinds of magic. Kate's magic is different but I really felt that I got that more at the end of this novel than from the first one. Witches and shamans are more explored in this novel but whatever Kate's new ward is not explained. Curran was a little funny in this one but he did not mean to be. I like the way that Kate handles him. Yes it could get her killed but she is not going to be afraid of him. I am looking forward to reading the next one.

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

It Ended Badly: 13 of the Worst Breakups in History

Today's post is on It Ended Badly: 13 of the Worst Breakups in History by Jennifer Wright.238 pages long and is published by Henry Holt and Company. The cover is black with a sack of papers and thirteen candy hearts on them, one of them is broken. The intended reader is someone who likes funny history, horrifying history, and funny writing. There is some mild language, no sex, and lots of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A history of heartbreak-replete with beheadings, uprisings, creepy sex dolls, and celebrity gossip-and its disastrously bad consequences throughout time
Spanning eras and cultures from ancient Rome to medieval England to 1950s Hollywood, Jennifer Wright's It Ended Badly guides you through the worst of the worst in historically bad breakups. In the throes of heartbreak, Emperor Nero had just about everyone he ever loved-from his old tutor to most of his friends-put to death. Oscar Wilde's lover, whom he went to jail for, abandoned him when faced with being cut off financially from his wealthy family and wrote several self-serving books denying the entire affair. And poor volatile Caroline Lamb sent Lord Byron one hell of a torch letter and enclosed a bloody lock of her own pubic hair. Your obsessive social media stalking of your ex isn't looking so bad now, is it?
With a wry wit and considerable empathy, Wright digs deep into the archives to bring these thirteen terrible breakups to life. She educates, entertains, and really puts your own bad breakup conduct into perspective. It Ended Badly is for anyone who's ever loved and lost and maybe sent one too many ill-considered late-night emails to their ex, reminding us that no matter how badly we've behaved, no one is as bad as Henry VIII.

Review- This is a very funny and scary book about love gone wrong. Wright handles her subject with great humor and helps because it is very intense. But I just had so much fun with this book. Wright gives little asides over the course of each story that add so much. Wright does this within the text but she is just saying what we are thinking in the back of our minds. She makes this work so well. She covers the very famous love stories and some that are not but just has horrifying. Sometimes the stories just make you sad, like in Oscar Wilde's case. He was never the same after everything that happened to him. That broke my heart because he stopped writing. All the things we do not have because of that heartbreak.

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. 

Alice

Today's post is on Alice by Christina Henry. It is the first in her Alice series. It is 291 pages long and is published by Ace. The cover is brown with a white rabbit head with a blood spot over its eye. The intended reader is someone who likes dark stories, good writing, and a little madness. There is language, rape, and lots of violence in this book; be warned. The story is told from third person close perspective of Alice. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll...
In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…
Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.
Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.
And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

Review- This is an excellent horror sequel to Alice in Wonderland. This world is very scary. I felt Alice's fear of not only what happened to her but what was going on around her. I did not think that she was weak because of this fear. That said I do like what Henry did with the original source book and her own take on it. Alice is someone who I liked as the main character. I feel that she she did what she had to do. I do wish that we had a chance to her from her family why they put her in the hospital; Alice has her beliefs but I am not sure that is really why. In addition the blurb makes you think that the Rabbit is the real villain. He is not, he is in the story for about ten pages then we get back to the real villain. I am very curious about where is Henry is going to go from here.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I was given this book by Ace/ROC in exchange for an honest review.

Hellsing volume 10

Today's post is on Hellsing volume 10 by Kohta Hirano. It is 183 pahes long and is published by Dark Horse. As it is the last book in the series you need to have read the first nine to understand the story. The cover has the cast looking at the reader smiling. The intended reader is someone who likes vampires, lots of actions, and retellings of classic stories. There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this volume and series. The story is told from third person god perspective following the characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The curtain rises on the final act of the apocalyptic war between vampires, Nazis, Catholics, werewolves, Protestants, and mercenaries, and the outcome is still in doubt. Amidst the blood-soaked wreckage of London, the Champions of light and darkness face off in a final showdown that will determine the future of humanity... or see humanity's fall!

Review- A good ending. All questions are answered, all enemies are dead, and Count Dracula is still kicking. Walter just wanted to fight Alucard at full strength and in the end is loyal to Sir Hellsing.The Nazis were crazy but they were smart. The major never saw Alucard as his real enemy because Alucard is a monster and the major saw himself as a man. So everything was about getting a human to kill him, like Sir Hellsing. In the end everything works out for the 'heroes'. They stop the bad guys, save the world, and become a real vampire. All well that ends well. This is a fun and fast paced series, that takes the vampire lore into a fun place. Dracula is hard to really make new but Hirano does fun things with him and with vampires in general. Good 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 money.

A Whisper of Spring

Today's post is on A Whisper of Spring by Lynn Kurland.  It is a novella that takes place before her first Nine Kingdoms trilogy. It is 82 pages long and is published by Berkley. The intended reader is someone who likes fantasy, love stories, and interesting plots. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from the third person close perspective of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- When Iolaire, princess of Ainneamh, is captured by the black mage of Wychweald, her brother seeks out the most unlikely of rescuers, a king who lives in a hunting lodge and keeps his crown in the flour bin. Symon of Neroche agrees to attempt to save a woman he has secretly dreamed about for years, though it may mean his life in trade.

Review- This takes place before Lothar became the big bad for the world. He is just starting out and he wants a wife. So he kidnaps the beautiful elven princess Iolaire. Luckly for her the king of the newly made kingdom of Neroche has been in love with her for years.  It was a lot of fun to see the beginnings of the main bad guy and how Neroche was founded. Lothar is really just a background presence but he does it well. Symon is great, I really like him. He is a bad place because Lothar is his older brother but he is going bad. Iolaire is not bad I would  have liked to see of her before she was kidnapped. A good addition to the Nine Kingdoms lore.

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

The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606

Today's post is on The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606 by James Shapiro. It is 365 pages long and is published by Simon & Schuster. The cover is a painting of London at the time. The intended reader is someone who likes Shakespeare, history, and well written nonfiction. There no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Preeminent Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro shows how the tumultuous events in England in 1606 affected Shakespeare and shaped the three great tragedies he wrote that year—King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra.
In the years leading up to 1606, since the death of Queen Elizabeth and the arrival in England of her successor, King James of Scotland, Shakespeare’s great productivity had ebbed, and it may have seemed to some that his prolific genius was a thing of the past. But that year, at age forty-two, he found his footing again, finishing a play he had begun the previous autumn—King Lear—then writing two other great tragedies, Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra.
It was a memorable year in England as well—and a grim one, in the aftermath of a terrorist plot conceived by a small group of Catholic gentry that had been uncovered at the last hour. The foiled Gunpowder Plot would have blown up the king and royal family along with the nation’s political and religious leadership. The aborted plot renewed anti-Catholic sentiment and laid bare divisions in the kingdom.
It was against this background that Shakespeare finished Lear, a play about a divided kingdom, then wrote a tragedy that turned on the murder of a Scottish king, Macbeth. He ended this astonishing year with a third masterpiece no less steeped in current events and concerns: Antony and Cleopatra.
The Year of Lear sheds light on these three great tragedies by placing them in the context of their times, while also allowing us greater insight into how Shakespeare was personally touched by such events as a terrible outbreak of plague and growing religious divisions. For anyone interested in Shakespeare, this is an indispensable book.

Review- This is a fascinating way to look at Shakespeare. Shapiro looks at what was going on around Shakespeare as he was working on this three works. From the political world to the obsession with witches. I, personally, have never thought about the why of Shakespeare's writing outside of himself. But of course he would have been not only aware of what was going on, he would use it for his craft. Shakespeare did not write in a vacuum and Shapiro really brings that home. The writing is excellent and the notes are easy to follow for research is desired. It has changed the way that I see Shakespeare's plays and now I want to know more about what was going on when he was writing his other works as well.

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. 

Hellsing volume 9

Today's post is on Hellsing volume 9 by Kohta Hirano. It is 226 pages long and is published by Dark Horse. The cover has Alucard and Walter on it. The intended reader is someone who likes retellings, dark humor, and lots of action. There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this volume. The story is told from third person god perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- After Alucard's triumphant return, the streets of London were flooded with the blood of vampire Nazi soldiers and crazed Catholic warriors. After the dust settled, only the Hellsing order of Protestant knights was left standing. Now it's up to the earthly agents of divine punishment to save the souls of the innocent. However, chaos soon engulfs the streets yet again. Come to find out, not all the Nazis were vanquished after all. Will Alucard and his allies have what it takes to save what is left of the city?

Review- Everything is coming together now. But they still have not explained Walter's betrayal for me. I think that it has to do with fighting Alucard but I am not sure. That said it is a very fast -paced race to the end. The Nazi leader wanted to die to foes who are worthy, Alucard wants to eat people, and Seras is just trying to defend her city. Much of what is going on it action so that makes this review a little harder to write. I want to know why Walter betrayed the Hellsings so long ago. He is the reason that they failed to finish the job back in 1944, he is the reason that Sir Hellsing's father was killed, and he is the reason for this attack. But I do not think that Alucard really cares for why. Only one more volume and maybe I will get some answers.

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

Rise

Today's post is on Rise by Anna Carey. It is the last book in her Eve trilogy. It is 310 pages long and is published by Harper. The cover has the main character on it facing away from the reader into a foggy landscape. There is some mild language, implied sex, and violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspective of the main character.  There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- How far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?
When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America—and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser—Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.
Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion—killing her father?
In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion.

Review- I really enjoyed this ending. I think that Carey did a good job. She raises the stakes and Eve does rise up to them. Carey does end this book a very positive place. Eve has closure and hope at the end. The world has a chance to get better and Eve has a chance to live a happy life with Caleb and their baby. Having Eve be pregnant for this last part added to the tension. Carey gives some of the secondary characters some very interesting development. That was very enjoyable and that made some of the losses feel more sad. I hope that Carey does not do anything more in this world. She resolves all the plot problems and she did it very well. I would like to see her write in a different setting.

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

Hellsing volume 8

Today's post is on Hellsing volume 8 by Kohta Hirano. It is 200 pages long and is publishes by Dark Horse. The cover has Father Anderson and the leader of Section 13 it. The intended reader is someone who likes retellings, reimagines, and lots of action. There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this volume. The story is told from third person god perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- London is already bathed in blood, its citizenry almost entirely slaughtered by vampiric, reborn nazi soldiers. And marching through the rivers of blood - thousands of extreme Catholic warriors in creepy cloaks. But the focus of this chaotic eighth volume is the return of Alucard, the slave-paladin of the British Protestants, who's just piloted an aircraft character up the Thames to join the fray. It's a crazy face-off between three gory armies and their primary killers, and if you think that sounds nuts, wait until you dive into the crimson-stained new volume of Kohta Hirano's creepy-cool Hellsing manga series.

Review- Now named and important people are starting to die. Father Anderson does not understand that in order to kill a monster, he must be a man, so he makes himself a monster for god. It was very moving to see Alucard trying to stop Anderson from doing it but Anderson would not listen to anyone else. Add we get some insight into Alucard himself. No surprise but he is Count Dracula. I do not know what is going with Walter but I am very curious. In the end Seras has some power or something over Alucard because he gets pulled into his past and cannot find his way out but he can hear her calling him. I am very curious about how Hirano is going to wrap this up. Only two more volumes.

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.

Library of Souls

Today's post is on Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs. It is the third in his Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. It is 458 pages long and is published by Quirk Books. The cover has a boy with wings looking at the camera. The intended reader is read the first two books, likes fantasy, and big plots. There is mild language, no sex, and violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspective of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the inside of the book- A boy with extraordinary powers. An army of deadly monsters. An epic battle for the future of peculiardom.
The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.
They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

Review- I did enjoy this series but I feel that the ending was too pat. That said it was a good solid ending to this series. Things were explained, bad guys stopped, and more peculiar world building happened. I was very happy with this book but for everything just working out in the end. But that was my only complaint and it is a very small one. I do hope that Riggs writes more in this world. I really like it but if he wants to branch out and try something new I think that he will be very successful. Again the pictures aided in the world building helping the reader see the very peculiar things that Riggs is writing about. I will read whatever Riggs writes next.

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

Hellsing volume 7

Today's post is on Hellsing volume 7 by Kohta Hirano. It is186 pages long and is published by Dark Horse. As it is the seventh in the series you need to have read the first six to understand the story. The cover has Seras and CaptainVernedead on it. There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this volume. The story is told from third person god perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- London is battered by a hurricane of death and destruction as vampire Nazis, Protestant knights, and Vatican warriors battle in what may result in a world-wide apocalypse. The Hellsing Organization's Wild Geese mercenaries are literally being eaten alive, and it might just take half-vampire Seras Victoria to embrace her unholy destiny to provide humanity a shred of hope. But with the Catholic Iscariot Army on the march and Alucard, the vampire lord himself, sure to enter the fray, this cauldron of blood is about to boil over!

Review- Character development for Seras in this volume. Seras finally chooses what she is going to be and that is a vampire. Again more deaths but that is sort-of the idea around a manga like this one. We some back story on Alucard, like how he ended up in England and it is  directly from Dracula so that was nice. Father Anderson has turned on the leader of the Iscariot division because he is crazy and evil. And London has been destroyed. So much going on here. I am very curious about how Hirano is going to end this series. Only three volumes left.

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.