Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 18

Today's post is on Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 18 by Masami Tsuda. It is 188 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The cover has Soichiro and his birth father Reiji on it. The intended reader is someone who likes manga, high school romances, and Drama! There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The story is told in third person close of main characters moving as needed over the course of the story. There Be Spoiler Ahead.

From the back of the book- After much encouragement from his adopted father, Soichiro decides he should get to know his birth father, Reiji. When Reiji invites Soichiro and Yukino for dinner, it seems the perfect opportunity to finally put Soichiro's anxieties to rest. Vut Reiji never stays in one place for long...

Review- This volume is really about the far past of Soichiro's family. It is about his father and his birth father. The past is not really past for Soichiro's father and their family but until now Soichiro never knew why. Lots of family drama and explanations about what is really going on in the background. Soichiro gets attached to his birth father but it looks like Reiji is just going to leave him again. Reiji was a love child and the only child that the family head cared about for some reason. It has not been explained as to why that it but I am not sure that it is really very important. What matters is the rest of the family wants the heads' love and only Reiji has it. Over time that preys on Soichiro's fathers' mind until he turns on his younger brother. He regrets now and wants to make it right but does not know how. But I know that there is more Drama ahead and maybe some peace for Soichiro at the end of it.

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 Tale of the Two Swords

Today post is on The Tale of the Two Swords by Lynn Kurland. It is 103 pages long and is published by Berkley. It is a novella in Kurland's Nine Kingdoms series. The cover has a young woman sleeping on it. The intended reader is someone who likes fantasy, romance, and interesting characters. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this novella. The story is told from the third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Mehar of Angesand is looking for a mage to help her discipher a book of spells she found in her mother’s belongings. She arrives at the palace of Chagailt to find it in ruins and the king and his mage dead. The stranger who offers to help her in spite of that turns out to be much more than he seems…

Review- Another wonderful addition to the Nine Kingdoms lore. This is about how Mehar become queen of Neroche and it hints about how she made her sword that Morgan destroys. It is a journey story and shows how the kings of Neroche has always been the same kind of guy. One with too much of a sense of humor for their own good. Like normal I really like the characters that you  meet. I would like to read more about the side characters and I want to read more about Mehar and her king. Lothar is in the background and there is a new villain that I do not remember reading about before. I liked that Lothar was in the background, we do not really deal too much with him and his evil plans. He was just the reason for the story but no where near the point.


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.  

Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 17

Today's post is on Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 17 by Masami Tsuda. As it is the seventeenth in the long running you need to have read the sixteen to understand the story. It is 200 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The cover has Yukino on it with her dog. The intended reader is some one likes high school romance and Drama.There is mild language, implied sexuality, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from the third person close of Soichiro. There Be spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Soichiro invites Yukino to his family's vacation home, where his birth father used to play piano for him. But when they arrive, they discover that Soichiro's father now plays for thousands across the world... and he's about to come home from the tour. Could this be the start of a beautiful relationship?

Review- This volume continues dealing with Soichiro and his family problems. He starts having memories of his birth father and does not know what to do. Soichiro does try to block out Yukino and his family but after all the trouble with his mother they are not going to let him. So he is forced to talk with him. Then his father comes back to Japan and kidnaps Soichiro. Soichiro decides to spend some time with his birth father to try and discover more about him and himself. Plus Yukino is pregnant and she has not told Soichiro yet. So more Drama ahead.

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

Magic Strikes

Today's post is on Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews. It is the third in their Kate Daniels series. It is 310 pages long and is published by Ace Fantasy. The cover has Kate and Curran it. The intended reader is someone who has read the first two, likes urban fantasy, and interesting characters. There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspective of Kate. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels…
Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.
But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta's shapeshifting community…

Review- Another good urban fantasy from the team. The story overall has been the best so far and I laughed at moments. I liked getting to know more about Kate, Curran was amusing, and I liked the greater world building. I like that Team Andrews is not afraid to make things too big. Most authors want their worlds to be easily controllable but I get the feeling that Team Andrews just wants to write what the story is. Normally I do not like a heavy-handed hero but Curran gets a pass from me. I only reason that I can think of for that is because of Kate. She never backs down from him or anyone. She does not want to die but she will not bend to anyone, no matter the cost. I like that about her.

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

The Devil's Diary: Hitler's High Priest and the Hunt for the Lost Papers of the Third Reich

Today's post is on The Devil's Diary: Hitler's High Priest and the Hunt for the Lost Papers of the Third Reich by Robert K. Wittman and David Kinney. It is 416 pages long and including notes; it is published by HarperCollins. The cover has a picture of Alfred Rosenberg with this dairy in front of his face. The intended reader is someone who is interested in history, World War 2 and understanding how things happen. There is some foul language, no sex, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- This exploration of the private wartime diary of Alfred Rosenberg—Hitler’s “chief philosopher” and architect of Nazi ideology—interweaves the story of its recent discovery with the revelation of its never-before-published contents, which are contextualized by the authors: The result is a unprecedented, page-turning narrative of the Nazi rise to power, the Holocaust, and Hitler’s post-invasion plans for Russia
A groundbreaking historical contribution, The Devil’s Diary is a chilling window into the mind of Adolf Hitler’s “chief social philosopher,” Alfred Rosenberg, who formulated some of the guiding principles behind the Third Reich’s genocidal crusade. It also chronicles the thrilling detective hunt for the diary, which disappeared after the Nuremburg Trials and remained lost for almost three quarters of a century, until Robert Wittman, a former FBI special agent who founded the Bureau’s Art Crimes Team, traced its strange journey.
The authors expertly and deftly contextualize more than 400 pages of entries stretching from 1936 through 1944, in which the loyal Hitler advisor recounts internal meetings with the Fürher and his close associates Hermann Göring and Heinrich Himmler; describes the post-invasion occupation of the Soviet Union; considers the “solution” to the “Jewish question;” and discusses his overseeing of the mass seizure and cataloguing of books and artwork from homes, libraries, and museums across occupied Europe. An eyewitness to events, this narrative of Rosenberg’s diary offers provocative and intimate insights into pivotal moments in the war and the notorious Nazi who laid the philosophical foundations of the Third Reich. 

Review-  This book is not just about Rosenberg but about the lawyer who helped try him. The lawyer was a Jewish man named Kempler and at the end of the Nuremburg trails, he walked away with thousands of documents about Rosenberg and the Nazi crimes. He was going to write a book about it but that just never happened. So many papers and documents were thought to be lost to time when they were found by Kempler's sons after he died. But some of the book is about Rosenburg and the excellent written documents he left behind about himself, the Fürher, and the Nazi plans in general. It is very chilling to read the words yourself about what Rosenburg and others high up in the Nazi party thought about anyone who was Jewish or just not pure 'Aryan'. With the recovery of this diary we can again examine how the Nazis happened and what we can do to stop it from happening again.

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

Kare Kano:his and her circumstances volume 16

Today's post is on Kare Kano:his and her circumstances volume 16 by Masami Tsuda. It is 192 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The cover has Yukino on it. As it is the sixteenth in the long running series you need to have read the first fifteen to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes high school romance, manga, and Drama! There is no language, no sex, and violence in this book. The story, for this volume, is mostly told from the third person close of Soichiro. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Soichiro reveals his painful past to Yukino--the truth behind his unfaltering drive to be perfect. But just when Soichiro thinks he is about to lose everything, Yukino comes through with shining colors, strengthening their bond. It's about time someone protected Soichiro from his birth mother, and Yukino and friends decide to step up to the challenge!

Review- So Soichiro comes clean with everyone in this volume. Yukino does have to push him into a corner to get him to open up to her about but in the end he does. He talks to Yukino, his friends, and most importantly his parents about what happened to him. It is not pretty to read but I think that the abuse is handled very well. I do think that it is romanticized with how the abuse was handled by his family and friends. No victim blaming and everyone believed Soichiro but maybe reading about abuse and seeing the characters react in a more positive way will help teach others how to be accepting. Only five more volume left and 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.

Sabine's Notebook

Today's post is on Sabine's Notebook by Nick Bantock. It is the second in his Griffin & Sabine trilogy. It is 48 pages long and is published by Chronicle Books. The cover is a beautiful, stylized map of Europe. The intended reader is someone who loves art, reading other peoples mail, and where art and story meet. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspective of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Griffin
Foolish man. You cannot turn me into a phantom because you are frightened. You do not dismiss a muse at a whim. If you will not join me--then I will come to you.
Sabine
 
Sabine was supposed to be imaginary, a friend and lover that Griffin had created to soothe his loneliness. But she threatens to become embodied--to appear on his doorstep, in fact. So he runs.
Faced with the terrifying prospect of meeting his own fictional character, Griffin runs. His journey begins conventionally--tracing a course through Europe and the Mediterranean--but slowly Griffin begins to realize that he is traveling backward in time, drifting through layers of dead civilizations and his own soul. His precarious link to reality is the possibly unreal Sabine, who is living in his house in London and keeping a notebook of his letters and her responses.
Once again, the story is told in strangely beautiful postcards and richly decorated letters that must actually be removed from their envelopes to be read. But Sabine's Notebook is also a sketchbook and a diary, filled with her delicately macabre drawings and notations, adding yet another layer to the visual intrigue that haunted readers of Griffin & Sabine and welcoming new readers to an even more complex and mysterious world.

Review- I love this story. Now that said I think that Griffin is being very dramatic for this whole book. The magical elements of the story really get a bigger focus. Sabine comes to London and Griffin gets to go on a grand adventure that almost kills him. Griffin decides that he needs to deal with himself before he comes back to Sabine. But the dark forces in the world are coming to get them both. Griffin is being hunted by something. Sabine is holding his way to safety but only if he can trust her. Griffin is struggling with everything that has happened to him so that makes him a little whiny but I still like him. The ending cliff hanger is good but I am glad that I have the next volume right here.

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.

Night Shift

Today's post is on Night Shift by Charlaine Harris. It is the third in her Midnight, Texas trilogy. It is 308 pages long and is published by Ace Books. The cover has the Midnight Pawn in the center looking dark and foreboding. There is foul language, sex, and violence in this book.  the intended reader is someone has read the first two books, likes urban fantasy, and over the top characters. The story is told from third person close moving from character to character from chapters to chapter. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- At Midnight’s local pawnshop, weapons are flying off the shelves—only to be used in sudden and dramatic suicides right at the main crossroads in town.
Who better to figure out why blood is being spilled than the vampire Lemuel, who, while translating mysterious texts, discovers what makes Midnight the town it is. There’s a reason why witches and werewolves, killers and psychics, have been drawn to this place.
And now they must come together to stop the bloodshed in the heart of Midnight. For if all hell breaks loose—which just might happen—it will put the secretive town on the map, where no one wants it to be...

Review- A good and interesting end to a weird little town. Everyone knows that there is something strange about Midnight and this book deals with why. The blurb makes it sound Lemuel is the going to be the focus of this book and that is just not the case. I feel that Fiji was the real main character for this novel. We get to spend time with everyone but I just feel that Fiji is the real point of this book and maybe even the series. Everything that is going in this volume is about her in the end. Pretty much all the plots threads are finished for this series and these characters.We discover what is going with Olivia, The Reeds, and everyone is pretty happily placed in the end. I wonder if is really is the last we will see of Midnight because there is still so much that could be done with this setting and characters. But if it is then this is a good place to leave it.

I give this is book a Four out of Five stars. I was given this book by Ace/ROC books as a Netgalley but I could not get it to work so I borrowed it from my local library. 

Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 15

Today's post is on Kare Kano: his and her circumstances volume 15 by Masami Tsuda. As it is the fifteenth in the series you need to have read the first fourteen to understand the story. The cover has Yukino and Soichiro on it. It is 200 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The intended reader is someone who likes high school romances and drama. There is no language, implied sex, and mild violence in this volume. The story  is told from the third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Soichiro's meetings with his birth mother continue to be a secret from everyone...especially Yukino. When his adoptive parents find out, they want him to be open with them, but how can he tell anyone about his memories of an abusive childhood? Instead, Soichiro turns to his best friend Asaba for support, while continuing to shut Yukino out. Will Soichiro finally tell Yukino the truth? Or will the consuming pain from his past destroy them both?

Review- At last Soichiro has begun to with what happened to him. He fights it all the way but in the end he faces himself and his past. That said it is a very hard read because Soichiro's mother abused him and we get to see it. But we get see really into his character and I think that is worth the hard read. Yukino is forced to prove that she really loves him no matter what; Soichiro also has to believe that. But we are not done with his mother just yet. Only six more volumes to go and 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.

Lovecraft Country

Today's post is on Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. It is 384 pages long and is published b HarperCollins. The cover is red with a white house on top of a hill with strange clansmen at the bottom. The intended reader is someone who likes horror, Lovecraftian themes, and interesting characters. There is some mild foul language, implied sexuality, and violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of different characters over the course of the story. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Chicago, 1954. When his father Montrose goes missing, twenty-two year old Army veteran Atticus Turner embarks on a road trip to New England to find him, accompanied by his Uncle George—publisher of The Safe Negro Travel Guide—and his childhood friend Letitia. On their journey to the manor of Mr. Braithwhite—heir to the estate that owned Atticus’s great grandmother—they encounter both mundane terrors of white America and malevolent spirits that seem straight out of the weird tales George devours.
At the manor, Atticus discovers his father in chains, held prisoner by a secret cabal named the Order of the Ancient Dawn—led by Samuel Braithwhite and his son Caleb—which has gathered to orchestrate a ritual that shockingly centers on Atticus. And his one hope of salvation may be the seed of his—and the whole Turner clan’s—destruction.
A chimerical blend of magic, power, hope, and freedom that stretches across time, touching diverse members of one black family, Lovecraft Country is a devastating kaleidoscopic portrait of racism—the terrifying specter that continues to haunt us today.

Review- I had a good time with this book. The writing was very good, the characters were interesting, and the Weird was excellent. There was not enough of the Weird for me, personally. The story is told in section moving from character and one strange horror to the next. My favorite section was Hippolyta disturbs the Universe which the character has some great Weird and Strange encounters. But most of the book is about the too real horror of being black in the era of Jim Crow laws. The times of real terror for me, while reading this book, where when the characters interacted with white people with power. They were shot at, bullied, beat up, and worse. But through it all there was the creeping Weird at the corners of the book. I loved that and I wanted more. I hope that Ruff writes more Weird, he does it good.

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