The Exile

Today's post is on The Exile by C. T. Adams. It is 318 pages long and is publicized by TOR. It is the first in her The Fae series. The cover has the main character in looking at the reader with another character in the background. The intended reader is someone who likes urban fantasy and good writing. There is some language, no sex, and violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the different characters moving as needed from chapter to chapter. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Brianna Hai runs an occult shop that sells useless trinkets to tourists—and real magic supplies to witches and warlocks. The magical painting that hangs in Brianna's apartment is the last portal between the fae and human worlds.
A shocking magical assault on her home reveals to Brianna that her father, High King Liu of the Fae, is under attack. With the help of her gargoyle, Pug, her friend David, and Angelo, a police detective who doesn't believe in magic, Brianna recovers what was stolen from her and becomes an unwilling potential heir to the throne.
A suspenseful urban fantasy with a hint of romance, The Exile is the first solo novel by C. T. Adams, who is half of USA Today bestselling author Cat Adams. Like the Cat Adams Blood Singer novels, The Exile is set in a world where magic is real and contains Adams's trademark blend of suspense, action, humor, and strongly emotional writing.

Review- An interesting and fast-paced urban fantasy. Adams puts her own spin on all things classically urban fantasy and magic. I liked it a lot. Brianna is a good heroine, she is not dumb, she knows her weaknesses, and she is not afraid to do whatever is takes. I like that in this volume there is no romance. I can see where one could have happened but not in this volume. Everything about the Fae and other urban fantasies, put them out of your head. Adams makes this all her own. The fight scenes are interesting and fast-paced. In fact everything is fast paced with this novel. I cannot wait for the second novel to see where this is going.

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.

Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 9

Today's post is on Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 9 by Masami Tsuda. As it is the ninth in the long running series, you need to have read the first eight to understand the story. It is 224 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The cover has Aya and Rika on it. The intended reader is someone who likes high school love stories, cute romances, and humor. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The culture festival begins with a bang- Kazuma's band Yin & Yang rocks the house, and the curtain finally opens on Aya's play! But not everybody's mind is on songs and spotlights. Poor Tonami hopelessly pines away over the elusive Tsubaki, who is the kind of woman who loves to be free- even if it means being alone.

Review- Most of this volume is the play which is an allegory for the story of the manga itself. Which is fun but after a little while I wanted to get back to what was really going on in the story. That said I really enjoyed the play. But I enjoying watching Tonami and Tsubaki come together with what they both need and want from a relationship. The things happening the background of the festival were fun and funny to read. Yukino and company do not get much character growth but with more sinister overtones around Soichiro; I am sure that is coming. What is a little drama in a high school manga? Totally needed that is what.

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.

Illusionarium

Today's post is on Illusionarium by Heather Dixon. It is 361 pages long and is published by Greenwillow Books. The cover has the main character and his sister on it looking over a misted and ruined city. The intended reader is young adult but it is a very interesting story with very unusual magic so adults can enjoy it too. 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 dust jacket- Far, far north, in the cold aerial city of Fata Morgana, apprentice scientist Jonathan is preparing to leave for university.
He doesn't know about Fantillium, the newly discovered chemical that allows people to share hallucinations- sometimes wondrous ones, sometimes appalling.
He doesn't know he hold the rare skill to control the hallucinations- to become an illusionist.
He doesn't know that Fantillium can also open gateways to parallel worlds. Or that he will soon begin an epic journey, crossing cities and worlds, to save his family, his friends, and his very reality.
He doesn't know any of that... yet.
And when he does, will his compass continue to point true north? Or will it break apart?

Review- This blurb is not the story. Here is the story- There is a plague that only kills women and the queen is dying from it. Jonathan's father is a well-known scientist and he has been called on to help. Jonathan's mother and sister get the disease. The woman who trained his father wants Jonathan to help her save another world. From things get really complex but now you have a better idea about the story. One of the things that I liked best about this book is that there is no romance in it. The main relationship is between Jonathan and his sister.The magic is really interesting and very different. Only some people can do magic but it eats away at them. It makes them very deformed in body which changes the way that people interact with them. They are both desired and rejected by society. This is an interesting and unique young adult novel.

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

Midnight in Broad Daylight

Today's post is on Midnight in Broad Daylight by Pamela Rotner Sakamoto. It is 464 pages long and is published by HarperCollins. The cover is a family picture of the all the brothers. The intended reader is someone interested in history, unsung World War 2 heroes, and moving family narratives. There is no language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- After their father’s death, the Fukuhara children—all born and raised in the Pacific Northwest—moved with their mother to Hiroshima, their parents’ ancestral home. Eager to go back to America, Harry and his sister, Mary, returned there in the late 1930s. Then came Pearl Harbor. Harry and Mary were sent to an internment camp until a call came for Japanese translators, and Harry dutifully volunteered to serve his country. Back in Hiroshima, their brothers, Frank and Pierce, became soldiers in the Imperial Japanese Army.
As the war raged on, Harry, one of the finest bilingual interpreters in the United States Army, island-hopped across the Pacific, moving ever closer to the enemy—and to his younger brothers. But before the Fukuharas would have to face one another in battle, the U.S. detonated the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, gravely injuring tens of thousands of civilians, including members of the Fukuhara family.
Alternating between American and Japanese perspectives, Midnight in Broad Daylight captures the uncertainty and intensity of those charged with the fighting, as well as the deteriorating home front of Hiroshima—never depicted before in English—and provides a fresh look at the events surrounding the dropping of the first atomic bomb. Intimate and evocative, here is an indelible portrait of a resilient family, a scathing examination of racism and xenophobia, an homage to the tremendous Japanese American contribution to the American war effort, and an invaluable addition to the historical record of this extraordinary time.

Review- A very moving family narrative across not just physical distance but emotional. Sakamoto works mainly with two of the brothers but all the of family has a voice in this book. She does not down play anything from the American cruelty to the Japanese bulling of the American born sons.Sakamoto tells the story in a very reader friendly way. She is not just interviewing or reading journals, she brings the story and the people in it to life. She helps American readers to understand the mindset of this family and their cultures. How much Harry wars with himself about what he is doing to help the war. Frank so caught in an impossible place but with hope that it will get better. Sakamoto does a wonderful job with this family and tells a very important, moving story.

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

Karo Kano: his and her circumstances volume 8

Today's post is on Karo Kano: his and her circumstances volume 8 by Masami Tsuda. As it is the eighth in the long running series you need to have read the first seven to understand the story. It is 216 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The cover has Yukino on it looking at the reader. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The intended reader is someone who likes manga, high school romance, and drama. The story is told from third person close of Soichiro and Yukino. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- As preparations for the culture festival continues, Soichiro realizes that there are actually two sides to his personality, one that is gentle and giving, and one which is frighteningly violent and possessive. It is a development tath hasn't gone unnoticed by Yukino either, and she worries that it will damage their relationship. Meanwhile, Tonami and Tsubaki finally realize that they have fallen in love with each other.

Review- The blurb makes the plot sound much more intense that it really is. Yes, Soichiro is dealing with some jealously but he is not dangerous. He does not attack or hurt anyone. He ignores them. That does hurt Tonami's feeling but they are working it out. The real plot is Yukino and her friends are going to do a play for the school festival and all that chaos with it. Soichiro is trying to handle loving and being loved in return as best as he can. But with his damaged background of rejection from family, that makes it hard for him. But I know that there is more Drama ahead.

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

Lord and Lady Spy

Today's post is on Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen. It is the first in her Lord and Lady Spy series. It is 376 pages long and is published by Sourcebooks. The cover has the two main characters looking at reader. The intended reader is someone who like historical romances, fun plots, and good writing. There is some mild language, sex, and violence in this book. The story is told from the third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Let the games begin...
No Man Can Outsmart Him...
Lord Adrian Smythe may appear a perfectly boring gentleman, but he leads a thrilling life as one of England's most preeminent spies, an identity so clandestine even his wife is unaware of it. But he isn't the only one with secrets...
She's Been Outsmarting Him For Years...
Now that the Napoleonic wars have come to an end, daring secret agent Lady Sophia Smythe can hardly bear the thought of returning home to her tedious husband. Until she discovers in the dark of night that he's not who she thinks he is after all.

Review- A very fun book that plays with spies. It is based on the movie Mr and Mrs. Smith and it is very funny. I think that if you have seen the movie, you will have more fun than if you have not. The main problem for both of these characters is that they do not want to talk about what is really going on. Of course by the end of the book they do and they find each other. But it takes a long time to get there. I know it would have been a different book if they just talked to each other from near the beginning but still. It annoyed me. That was the only thing that annoyed me. Overall I had a great time with this book. It made me laugh, it was just fun for the most part.

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.

Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 7

Today's post is on Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 7 by Masami Tsuda. As it is the seventh in the long running series you need to have read the first six to understand the story. It is 217 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The cover has Tsubaki and her step-brother on it. The intended reader is someone who likes high school romance, humor, and a little drama. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from the third person close of Yukino or Soichiro. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The second semester has begun and everyone's busy with tests, practices and activities. It's time to prepare for the culture festival and Yukino has been asked to perform in a futuristic sci-fi play. There's instant drama when Tonami, a transfer student and old friend of Soichiro, comes back on the scene after three years. Tempers flare and competitive natures run wild.

Review- A good plot book. Other characters get some characters development and Yukino is trying something new. We get more hints about what is going in Soichiro's head but still not very clear. I do think it's funny the way the plot is trying to make him seem like a hidden bad guy when he is just trying to deal with his feelings of love and loss. The way that Soichiro was drawn for some scenes just made me laugh but maybe I am just too far from being that age to really see any harm in his feelings. If he was acting them out that would be different but just having feelings is not and I think that is something everyone needs to learn on their own. More Drama Ahead.

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.

Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 6

Today's post is on Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 6 by Masami Tsuda. It is 216 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The cover has the two main characters on it. As it is the sixth in the long running series you need to have read the first five to understand the story. There is no language, sex, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from the third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- It's not long before Soichiro's back from a very successful tournament, much to Yukino's delight. Now they can spend some time with each other before school starts again. Yukino notices that Soichiro's matured a lot, which stirs up new feelins in her and makes her fall in love with him even more. Soichiro's feeling for Yukino deepen as well, and he has some difficulties dealing wit that and some family issues...

Review- We finish the story about how Yukino's parents married then we get back to Yukino and Soichiro. They have some good moments and then they decide to take their relationship to the next level. It was very tastefully done. We get to see Soichiro's family and they are horrible. They hate him because of things his father did almost twenty years ago. Because of this in his past, his relationship with Yukino is pushing into that pain. She loves him and that makes him scared. More drama ahead!

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.

The Diabolical Miss Hyde

Today's post is on The Diabolical Miss Hyde by Viola Carr. It is the first in her Electric Empire series. It is 444 pages long and is published by Harper Voyager. The cover has Lizzie Hyde on it with Captain Lafayette behind her. The intended reader is someone who likes steampunk, sort-of retellings, and a fun story lines. There is some language, sex, and violence in this book. The story is told in two ways third person from Eliza's perceptive and first person from Lizzie's. There be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Magic, mystery, and romance mix in this edgy retelling of the classic The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde–in which Dr. Eliza Jekyll is the daughter of the infamous Henry...
In an electric-powered Victorian London, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a crime scene investigator, hunting killers with inventive new technological gadgets. Now, a new killer is splattering London with blood, drugging beautiful women and slicing off their limbs. Catching "the Chopper" could make Eliza's career—or get her burned. Because Eliza has a dark secret. A seductive second self, set free by her father's forbidden magical elixir: wild, impulsive Lizzie Hyde.
When the Royal Society sends their enforcer, the mercurial Captain Lafayette, to prove she's a sorceress, Eliza must resist the elixir with all her power. But as the Chopper case draws her into London's luminous, magical underworld, Eliza will need all the help she can get. Even if it means getting close to Lafayette, who harbors an evil curse of his own.
Even if it means risking everything and setting vengeful Lizzie free . . .

Review- This is a very fun steampunk adventure with some old literary threads. Carr does a lot with this plot and she makes it work. The steampunk world is very well realized and I want to see more if it. I liked both of our heroines. They bring different things to the table. Eliza is very practical and uses her brains to get through everything but Lizzie is the dark side that can solve the problems that need more than just brains. The villain for this book was okay but he was just stand in for the real villain. The real villain is very fun and I look forward to seeing more of him. The good captain was interesting and I look forward to seeing where he goes in the story. The one thing that I found annoying was how much Eliza and Lizzy dislike each other. They look down and almost hate their other half. That did get old. But it is a solid first in a new series.

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