The Fox's Kiss, volume 1

Today's post is on The Fox's Kiss, volume 1 by Saki Aikawa. It is 192 pages long, it is the first volume in her The Fox's Kiss series and is published by Akita Publishing Co., Ltd. The cover has the two main characters on it. The intended reader is someone who is likes shojo manga, Japanese lore and very pretty art. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The story is story from the third person close of the main female character.

From the Kindle Blurb- Koharu discovers that she now has the power to heal demons like her late grandmother did. The overly self-confident fox demon Iori takes a liking to her. The sudden kiss was a ritual of engagement?! What will happen to Koharu now that she has to live with Iori in human form...?!

Review- A very fun, pretty romance manga. I read this manga before it was licensed and I never thought that it would be brought over the US. I was very surprised and pleased to have found it on Amazon. It has some similar themes to other supernatural romance manga, like Kamisama Kiss, but I think that it is different enough to stand on its own merits. Koharu, after the death of her grandmother, can see and heal yokai. The first one she meets is a very handsome fox yokai who decides that she should be his servant. From here we have the basic story. I really like the characters, I like that Koharu is a healer, not weak but uses that to make her life easier like helping weaker yokai who then become her friends, I like the light romance, and Iori is funny. I am very excited to finally get to read the whole 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.

Breath, Annie, Breath

Today's post is on Breath, Annie, Breath by Miranda Kenneally. It si 320 pages long and is published by Sourcebooks. The cover has Annie on it with her back towards the reader and holding someone's hand that is off screen. The intended reader is young adult, and likes realistic love stories. There is very mild foul language, mild sexuality, and no violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The finish line is only the beginning.…
Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can't escape the guilt that if she hadn't broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.
But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she's at war with her body, her mind-and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms...and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

Review- A very moving story about love, loss, and realizing it is okay to move on with your life. Annie's boyfriend died in a car accident one year ago and she is deep into mourning. But she wants to do something to honor his life and he was training to run a marathon, so she signs up to run it for him. We get a very moving story about grief, love, and learning to live again after a horrible loss. I liked all the characters in this book, Annie was very believable with her grief, Jeremiah is so sweet and really in love with her, so he is not pushy at all. I liked how well, I felt, Annie's grief was shown. When she realizes that she likes Jeremiah, she feels that she is betraying Kyle and beats herself up over it. But she learns and grows over the course of the story and I really like who she is at the end. It is a very hopeful story about grief and I found it very moving.

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

Sweet Rein, volume 3

Today’s post is on Sweet Rein, volume 3 by Sakura Tsukuba. It is the third in her Sweet Rein series, you need to have read the two volume to understand what the plot is. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it looking cute and happy. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo love stories, holiday themed stories, and magical girl stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Spring is in full bloom, and the rein connecting Kurumi and Kaito has turned red. Kaito is in the midst of mating season, and all human females are susceptible to his charms. Just as Kaito  has been bewitched by her, Kurumi now finds herself bewitched by him!

Review- A cute third and final volume to a sweet series. The blurb on the back is just the first story within this volume but it is cute with Kurumi thinking about her feelings for Kaito and what is she going to do. The story ends with them delivering presents and still trying to find themselves and each other. I really enjoyed this manga. It is was sweet, it was cute, and I liked the theme of being a Santa every day to help others; add in a little love story and it is a good series. I do wonder if the manga-ka is still writing this series in Japan because of the way that the story ends and if so I hope that future volumes will come to the USA but if it really finished then that is okay too. I am very pleased with series and the ending. Cute, short, and sweet series, just perfect for the holidays.

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

Beneath the Sugar Sky

Today’s post is on Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire. It is the third book in her Wayward Children series. It is 174 pages long and is published by TOR Books. The intended reader is someone who has read the first books, and looked for their own door to fall in. There is mild foul language, talk of sex, and mild violence it this book. The story is told from third person god perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Beneath the Sugar Sky returns to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. At this magical boarding school, children who have experienced fantasy adventures are reintroduced to the "real" world.
Sumi died years before her prophesied daughter Rini could be born. Rini was born anyway, and now she’s trying to bring her mother back from a world without magic.

Review- The third novel takes place sometime after the first one with some new characters from different worlds. The action gets going very quickly unlike in Down among the Sticks and Bones with the first chapter ending as Rini falls from the sky and the plot is very fast. We get to see more of Confection and see more about the characters we have met before like Kade and we get to see Nancy again in her home this time. Confection is an interesting place that was made by the Travelers who were called there. Every Traveler, until Sumi, was building in Confection then the cycle was broken and that is why Sumi, not a builder, was called there. This is the first novel in the series that has a ticking clock with Rumi disappearing slowly over the course of the story. I love this books and I wish they were longer but this volume is another excellent addition to the series and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next volume.

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

Sweet Rein, volume 2

Today’s post is on Sweet Rein, volume 2 by Sakura Tsukuba. It is the second in her Sweet Rein series, you need to have read the first volume to understand what the plot is. It is 208 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it looking cute and happy. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo love stories, holiday themed stories, and magical girl stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Kurumi and Kaito have remained together for a year, but a Dark Santa appears, intent on breaking the two apart. Kurumi and Kaito's rein is severed, and the Dark Santa takes control of Kaito. Can Kurumi manage to get Kaito back, even when she's still unsure if he's truly happy as her servant?

Review- Another cute volume this series with some world building going on. The Dark Santa sub-plot is more about what happens to the reindeer if they commit a sin against their Santa. The Dark Santa wants to make sure that Kurumi really has Kaito's best interest in her heart. The rest of the volume is about Kaito's older brother finding his Santa. The last part of the volume is a short story about a boy who wants a girlfriend and how he gets one does not matter. This volume is more of the same from the first one, so if you like the first volume you will enjoy this volume. I am interesting to how this series is going to wrap up with only the one volume left.

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

Not Your Sidekick

Today's post is on Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee. It is the first in her first in her Sidekick Squad series. It is 283 pages long and  is published by Duet Publishing. The cover is orange with the main character jumping over something and a hero flying behind her. The intended reader is young adult, someone who likes superhero stories, and love stories. There is very mild foul language, kissing, and mild violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Welcome to Andover… where superpowers are common, but internships are complicated. Just ask high school nobody, Jessica Tran. Despite her heroic lineage, Jess is resigned to a life without superpowers and is merely looking to beef-up her college applications when she stumbles upon the perfect (paid!) internship—only it turns out to be for the town’s most heinous super-villain. On the upside, she gets to work with her longtime secret crush, Abby, who Jess thinks may have a secret of her own. Then there’s the budding attraction to her fellow intern, the mysterious “M,” who never seems to be in the same place as Abby. But what starts as a fun way to spite her superhero parents takes a sudden and dangerous turn when she uncovers a plot larger than heroes and villains altogether.

Review- A very cute love story with a serious background plot. Jess is a lot of fun and I found her to be pretty relatable, she is the middle child of an extra-ordinary family with hero parents and older sister and then her younger brother is a genius. She feels left out of all that. So she decides to get an internship and she does enjoy working for her parents villains but slowly she starts to discover things about the world and herself. The love story between her and Abby is very cute with the two of them trying to express themselves but are also afraid to do so. I really enjoyed this love story. I  really enjoyed this story in total from the world to the characters to the way that young love was handled. I look forward to reading the next one in this series.

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.

Sweet Rein, volume 1

Today’s post is on Sweet Rein, volume 1 by Sakura Tsukuba. It is the first in her Sweet Rein series. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it looking cute and happy. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo love stories, holiday themed stories, and magical girl stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book - A magical romance from the creator of Land of the Blindfolded. Sad at the thought of spending Christmas alone, Kurumi Sagara goes out for a walk. While she’s crossing the street, a boy bumps into her, and a rein suddenly appears that binds them together. The overjoyed boy tells her she’s his master and that she’s a Santa Claus. Kurumi dismisses him as a crazy person, but then he transforms into a reindeer?!

Review – This is a very cute magical girl love story with a Christmas theme. Kurumi is a girl who loves Christmas but is going to be spending it alone but then she meets a boy, Kaito, who says that she is his master and a Santa Claus. We get our story from there. It is very cute with Kurumi using her Santa powers to help not just during the Christmas season but whenever she can. The love story is in the background with Kurumi unsure if Kaito really likes her or just because she is his Santa. It does not help that Kaito thinks that they are one in the same thing. I like the characters very much, the theme is cute without being too over-the-top, and the art is good. I want Kurumi and Kaito to end up together and beat the odds as Santa and Reindeer.

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

A Girl Like You

Today’s post is on A Girl Like You by Michelle Cox. It is the first in her Henrietta and Inspector Howard series. It is 276 pages long and is published by She Writes Press. The cover has the two main characters on it looking at each other. The intended reader is someone who likes historical mysteries with a side of a love story. There is mild foul language, talk of sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Henrietta Von Harmon works as a 26 girl at a corner bar on Chicago’s northwest side. It’s 1935, but things still aren’t looking up since the big crash and her father’s subsequent suicide, leaving Henrietta to care for her antagonistic mother and younger siblings. Henrietta is eventually persuaded to take a job as a taxi dancer at a local dance hall―and just when she’s beginning to enjoy herself, the floor matron turns up dead.
When aloof Inspector Clive Howard appears on the scene, Henrietta agrees to go undercover for him―and is plunged into Chicago’s grittier underworld. Meanwhile, she’s still busy playing mother hen to her younger siblings, as well as to pesky neighborhood boy Stanley, who believes himself in love with her and keeps popping up in the most unlikely places, determined to keep Henrietta safe―even from the Inspector, if need be. Despite his efforts, however, and his penchant for messing up the Inspector’s investigation, the lovely Henrietta and the impenetrable Inspector find themselves drawn to each other in most unsuitable ways.

Review- This is an interesting mystery with a love story that takes center stage towards the end. The setting is very fun with lots of little details like language and descriptions of everyday life that add to the overall ambiance. Henrietta is doing whatever jobs she can get her hands on to feed her family as her mother cannot work for many reasons. That leads her to working as a taxi dancer and from there into murder and love. The love story for most of the novel is very much in the background but at the end it takes over the story. I have mixed feelings about that. The murder mystery itself is also in the background with this being much more about the time and what Henrietta has to do to help her family and herself survive a tough world. I liked it well enough but I do not know if I will read the next one.

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.

Jell-O Girls: A Family History

Today’s post is on Jell-O Girls: A Family History by Allie Rowbottom. It is 288 pages long and is published by Little, Brown. The cover is light blue with a Jell-O mold dessert with a Barbie doll in it. The intended reader is someone who is interested in memoirs. There is foul language, sex, and mild violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book - A memoir that braids the evolution of one of America's most iconic branding campaigns with the stirring tales of the women who lived behind its façade - told by the inheritor of their stories.
In 1899, Allie Rowbottom's great-great-great-uncle bought the patent to Jell-O from its inventor for $450. The sale would turn out to be one of the most profitable business deals in American history, and the generations that followed enjoyed immense privilege - but they were also haunted by suicides, cancer, alcoholism, and mysterious ailments.
More than 100 years after that deal was struck, Allie's mother Mary was diagnosed with the same incurable cancer, a disease that had also claimed her own mother's life. Determined to combat what she had come to consider the "Jell-O curse" and her looming mortality, Mary began obsessively researching her family's past, determined to understand the origins of her illness and the impact on her life of Jell-O and the traditional American values the company championed. Before she died in 2015, Mary began to send Allie boxes of her research and notes, in the hope that her daughter might write what she could not. JELL-O GIRLS is the liberation of that story.
A gripping examination of the dark side of an iconic American product and a moving portrait of the women who lived in the shadow of its fractured fortune, JELL-O GIRLS is a family history, a feminist history, and a story of motherhood, love and loss. In crystalline prose Rowbottom considers the roots of trauma not only in her own family, but in the American psyche as well, ultimately weaving a story that is deeply personal, as well as deeply connected to the collective female experience.

Review – An interesting memoir about a family of women, their lives and some deaths. Rowbottom starts the ending of her mother’s life and retraces the steps of her grandmother, who she never knew, her mother and herself. How they lived their troubled lives and how two of them died. Rowbottom looks into the past with honestly that at times can be uncomfortable but the past is rarely nice and neat. We, the readers, are taken from into the lives of women who did not how to speak and died with words in their mouths. Rowbottom’s grandmother never wanted to be a mother but by virtue of the time she lived, she felt that she had no choice but children. Her mother was surprised by her pregnancy but she was a willing and loving mother. All three had similar problems with men and health. The memoir is well-written full of feeling but it is just about three women and their problems. It is not ground-breaking. If you enjoy family memoirs then you should give this one a look.

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

Yona of the Dawn, volume 2

Today's post is on Yona of the Dawn, volume 2 by Mizuho Kusanagi. It is the second in her Yona of the Dawn series. It is 190 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Princess Yona and Hak on it as they are running. The intended reader is someone who likes epic high fantasy, shojo manga, and revenge plots. There is no foul language, no sex, but there is violence in this story. The story is told from third person close mostly of Yona but some of Hak her bodyguard. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- While on the run, Yona and Hak head to Hak's hometown, where she attempts to heal her broken heart. However, she can't rest there for long once she discovers that Su-won may soon becomes king! What will Yona choose to do in the wake of this news?

Review- This volume picks up right there the last left off. Hak and Yona get to his hometown, the Wind Village, and are taken into safety. But Su-won is moving forward with his plans to rule the nation but the Wind Village withholds their support because Hak's grandfather knows that Su-won had something to do with the murder of the previous King. Yona has to choose what she is going to do. Is she going to live a quiet life hiding in the Wind Village or is she going to try and find a priest to see what her destiny should be. I liked how much plot we get in this volume and we get to see that Hak does love Yona but she does not see it not just because of Su-won but because he is hiding it. We get action in this volume as Su-won wants Yona back and Hak dead but we do not get to see why. I cannot wait to read the next volume.

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.

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

Today’ s post is on Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley. It is 256 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover has Beauty on it with a rose. The intended reader is someone who loves fairy tales and retellings. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character, Beauty. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A strange imprisonment...
Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in looks, she can perhaps make up for in courage.
When her father comes home with the tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows she must go to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. Her father protests that he will not let her go, but she answers, "Cannot a Beast be tamed?"
Robin McKinley's beloved telling illuminates the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple, Beauty and the Beast.

Review- This is one of the best, if not the best, retelling of Beauty and the Beast I have ever read. I first read this book about twenty years ago and I loved it as a teenager; so when I wanted to revisit it I had my previous feelings in mind. I was not disappointed in my old favorite. It is still as wonderful, magical, and everything that it was when I first read it. The story starts out when Beauty is a child and she is dissatisfied with her given name of Honor and wants to be called Beauty. We travel with her and her family as she grows, they lose their fortune, and have to move into the countryside. This story is the perfect version of Beauty and the Beast, we see Beauty grow to feel compassion, mercy, and then love for the Beast. We see that he is really not a monster but someone who is trapped by magic and unable to help himself or change his own fate. Wonderful retelling and I highly recommend it.

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 many years ago.

Claymore volume 23: Mark of the Warrior

Today's post is on Claymore volume 23: Mark of the Warrior by Norihiro Yagi. It is the twentieth-third the long running Claymore series, you need to have read the first twenty-two volumes to understand the story. It is 195 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump Advanced. The cover has Miria facing something in the distance. The intended reader is someone who likes dark plots, high action, and strong female characters. There is mild foul language, no sexuality, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Rebel Warrior Miria penetrates te headquaters of the secret Organization that created her, discovering the appalling truth about Yoma. Meanwhile, human warrior Raki joins the Claymores on the battlefield and seems closer than ever to his goal of reunited with Clare, his Claymore companion. Yet the cycle of violence cannot be stopped- an epic battle is brewing and Priscilla, a powerful force for evil, is back in the fight!

Review- We learn a  lot about the history of the Yoma in this volume and how they were created. Miria discovers the beings that Yoma and Claymores are made from and she frees them from the Organization and stops the experiment in this area. Most of the volume is about getting ready for Clare to return to the story. We get to see what happens when a Claymore is made because Clare comes out without the stitches needed to hold her together. The volume ends with Priscilla is back and everything is going to get real from here.

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.

My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel

Today's post is on My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel by Kitty Curran,  Larissa Zageris. It is 352 pages long and is published Quirk Books. The cover is dark blue with different scenes from the book on it. The intended reader is someone with a sense of humor, likes choose your own adventure stories, and over-the-top love stories. There is mild foul language, sex, and mild violence in this book. The story is told in second person and moving as you make choices. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The romance novel that lets you pick your path, follow your heart, and find happily ever after!
You are the plucky but penniless heroine in the center of eighteenth-century society, courtship season has begun, and your future is at hand.
Will you flip forward fetchingly to find love with the bantering baronet Sir Benedict Granville?
Or turn the page to true love with the hardworking, horse-loving highlander Captain Angus McTaggart?
Or perhaps race through the chapters chasing a good (and arousing) man gone mad, bad, and scandalous to know, Lord Garraway Craven?
Or read on recklessly and take to the Continent as the “traveling companion” of the spirited and adventuresome Lady Evangeline?
Or yet some other intriguing fate?
Make choices, turn pages, and discover all the daring delights of the multiple (and intertwining!) story lines. And in every path you pick, beguiling illustrations bring all the lust and love to life.

Review- This is a great and fun read. I love choose your own adventure books as a child and it was fun to have something like that again. This is mostly a humorous book with everything being very tongue-in-cheek about the story lines and way that they are told. We get to choose from handsome Scotsman to a fair lady love in exotic Egypt. The writing is fun, the choices are quirky and fun, and the overall book is a good time. There are many paths to choose from, so many that  I didn't get to all of them in my read through. Easy and fun, I highly recommend.

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.

Timekeepers: How the World Become obsessed with Time

Today’s post is on Timekeepers: How the World Become obsessed with Time by Simon Garfield. It is 349 pages long including index and further readings and is published by Canongate. The cover is blue with a clock face on it. The intended reader is someone is interesting in the history of time and timekeeping. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book.  There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book-  Not so long ago we timed our lives by the movement of the sun. These days our time arrives atomically and insistently, and our lives are propelled by the notion that we will never have enough of the one thing we crave the most. How have we come to be dominated by something so arbitrary?
The compelling stories in this book explore our obsessions with time. An Englishman arrives back from Calcutta but refuses to adjust his watch. Beethoven has his symphonic wishes ignored. A moment of war is frozen forever. The timetable arrives by steam train. A woman designs a ten-hour clock and reinvents the calendar. Roger Bannister becomes stuck in the same four minutes forever. A British watchmaker competes with mighty Switzerland. And a prince attempts to stop time in its tracks.
Timekeepers is a vivid exploration of the ways we have perceived, contained and saved time over the last 250 years, narrated in the highly inventive and entertaining style that bestselling author Simon Garfield is fast making his own. As managing time becomes the greatest challenge we face in our lives, this multi-layered history helps us tackle it in a sparkling new light.

Review- Garfield starts this book with thinking about when time slowed down for him. He was in an accident and time seemed to slow down as he experienced it. That started him thinking about time and how we interact with this thing that rules so much of our lives. Garfield writes about how time has changed over the course of centuries, how it started with trains making everyone work on the same time, and how watches are made. He spends many chapters of the book about watches and how they have affected society. He spends a day watching a movie with every scene taking place at a particular time and to see the whole movie you have to spend a whole day watching it. The research, as always from Garfield, is excellent and the ideas expressed are interesting. That said, I had some trouble connecting with Garfield this time. In the past when I started one of his books, I was drawn into immediately but not so with this one.I still enjoyed it but it took time for me to be invested in this book. 

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.

Takane & Hana, volume 1

Today's post is on Takane & Hana, volume 1 by Yuki Shiwasu. It is the first volume on her Takane & Hana series. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Takane & Hana on with money flying around them. The intended reader is someone who likes ridiculous, over-the-top comedy. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from Hana's perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But what happens when Hana meets Takane is an unexpected pairing of utter opposites!
The meeting between Takane and Hana ends in an explosive manner, and Hana is convinced that she’ll never have to see that awful Takane again. But Takane actually seems interested in Hana! Exasperated by Takane’s immature attitude, yet amused and intrigued despite herself, Hana embarks on a hilarious journey with Takane that just might lead to love!

Review- This series is so funny. Hana is so smart and quick-thinking and Takane is over-the-top hilarious. The basic is as the blurb says but add in a lot of gags like Takane being dumb about all things normal and being too busy trying to get one over on Hana but it never really works. The age difference is a big point of the plot with them both being very aware of it but it is not illegal and it is handled with humor and care. I never felt uncomfortable with Hana and Takane's interactions. I had a good time reading this manga but I can see where it would not be for everyone. I, personally, look forward to reading more because I enjoyed it.

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.

Ms. Marvel, Volume 4: Last Days

Today's post is on Ms. Marvel, Volume 4: Last Days by G. Willow Wilson (Author),  Adrian Alphona (Illustrator). It is 120 pages long and published by Marvel. The cover has Kamala on it in the center with destruction of Jersey City behind her. There intended reader is someone who has read the first three volumes and like Marvel Comics. There in no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this comic book. The story is told from third person close of Kamala. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- From the moment Kamala put on her costume, she's been challenged. But nothing has prepared her for this: the last days of the Marvel Universe. Lucky she's got the help of Carol "Captain Marvel" Danvers! Between teaming up with her personal hero to rescue her brother and trying to keep her city from falling into an all-out frenzy, Kamala has barely had time to come to terms with the fact that the world is literally collapsing around her. But the truth will catch up to her, and soon. When the world is about to end, do you still keep fighting? Kamala knows the answer. Let's do this, Jersey City.
Collecting: Ms. Marvel (2014) #16-19, written by G. Willow Wilson and illustrated by Adrian Alphona, plus material from Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #7-8.

Review- We pick very near the ending of volume three with Kamala still dealing with her ex-crush and a bit of a broken heart. But she doesn't get long to mope because something is happening in New York City, a planet has appeared over it and everything is getting real. Kamala does what she can help but then she begins to feel how small she really is in the face of something like this. Captain Marvel comes to see her to give her information and to help her in a small way. We do not get the see the bigger picture in this comic because that is not the point, the point is Kamala protects Jersey City, her home, New York is in the hands of others. We do get some character development with Kamala, her mother, and her best friend. But the volume ends before we get see anything else about the bad stuff the volume ends. I am pleased with the character progress in this volume and I am curious about what is going to come next.

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

The Ancient Magus' Bride, volume 3

Today's post is on The Ancient Magus' Bride, volume 3 by Kore Yamazaki. It is the third in her Ancient Magus' Bride series and as such you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. It is 184 pages long and is published by Seven Seas. The cover has the three main characters Chise, Ruth and Elias on it. The intended reader is someone who likes urban fantasy and shonen manga. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Chise. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- An Ancient Evil
Chise has come face to face with the person responsible for the brutal killings at a nearby churchyard- and to her shock, it's someone she recognizes from her visions of the tragedy at Ulthar! Appalled by the realization that the alchemist who wrought such horror is still p to his old tricks, Chise must act to stop him. But in order to control her dangerous powers as a sleigh beggy, she'll need all the help she can get.

Review- We get a lot of character development in this volume with Chise learning more about what Elias is truly capable of. The bad guy is revealed to an immortal called Joseph and other names but he ,mostly, calls himself Joseph, so I will to. He is insane and does not understand or care that his actions are evil. He is doing it to live a pain-free life, whatever that means he never says. I liked everything that happens in this volume from Chise getting Ruth to seeing what happens when Elias loses his temper, I felt that a lot of ground was covered in this volume. It is ends with Chise being told a story about Elias from many centuries ago and I look forward to seeing him long before he was anything like Chise knows him as.

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.

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

Today’s post is on The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler. It is the first in her The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things series. It is 256 pages long and is published by Candlewick Press. The cover has a butt on it with the title stitched into her jean pocket. The intended reader is young adult. There is mild foul language, talk of sex, sexuality, and rape but there is no violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character, Virginia. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex, especially when she compares herself to her slim, brilliant, picture-perfect family. But that’s before a shocking phone call — and a horrifying allegation — about her rugby-star brother changes everything. With irreverent humor and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creates an endearingly blunt heroine who speaks to every teen who struggles with family expectations, and proves that the most impressive achievement is to be true to yourself.

Review- A compelling coming of age story for a modern audience. Virginia is very relatable character, she worries about her weight, her grades, that she doesn’t feel like she fits into her family of thin, brown haired smart people. Add into trying to have some kind of relationship with a boy when she believes that no boy would want to be seen with her in public you have enough drama. But then her beloved older brother date rapes a girl. Virginia is forced to really look at her family, herself, and the world she lives in. The subjects handled where handled with care and respect to the readers, honestly but not overly descriptive. Virginia talks about how knowing her brother could do something like made her feel about herself, him, and boys in general. She makes mistakes but learns to own up to them. I enjoyed this book greatly and I think that it has a place in our ongoing conversation about consent. I am curious about where the sequel is going to go from the end of the first book.

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.

Queen's Quality volume 3

Today's post is on Queen's Quality volume 3 by Kyousuke Motomi. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. It is the third in Kyousuke's new series, Queen's Quality, you need to have read the first two volumes and previous series in order to understand what is going on. The cover has the main two characters on it looking at the reader. The intended reader is someone who has read QQ Sweeper, likes shojo manga, and supernatural love stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters moving as the story goes on. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Fumi finds out that she has both a White Queen and a Black Queen inside of her, and she must train her mind and body in order to becomes a the true Queen. Kyutaro vows to protect Fumi, but will he be able to do anything when other gatekeepers go after her power?

Review- Lots of world-building in this volume with other gatekeepers and learning more about what happened ten years ago. Fumi is scared but because it is Fumi, she just plows on into her future whatever happens, she trusts Kyutaro to help her and protect her from herself. She is tested and 'fails' by another gatekeeper clan but I think that they are the failures. They made the Black Queen rise up out of Fumi as a protector to stop them from harming and maybe even killing Fumi. Kyutaro's family feels the same way, that tormenting Fumi is not the right way to test her. I know that we will see the Seiryu family again but I hope they stay background characters. I really like our main characters too much to have less of them.

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.

Death on the Devil's Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey

Today’s Nonfiction post is on Death on the Devil's Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey by Jesse P. Pollack and Mark Moran. It is 211 pages long and is published by The History Press. The cover has a picture of the murder victim Jeanette DePamla and where she was found. The intended reader is someone who is interested in true crime, weird stories, and weird New Jersey. There is some foul language, no sex, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- As Springfield residents decorated for Halloween in September 1972, the crime rate in the quiet, affluent township was at its lowest in years. That mood was shattered when the body of sixteen-year-old Jeannette DePalma was discovered in the local woods, allegedly surrounded by strange objects. Some feared witchcraft was to blame, while others believed a serial killer was on the loose. Rumors of a police coverup ran rampant, and the case went unsolved--along with the murders of several other young women. Now, four decades after Jeannette DePalma's tragic death, authors Jesse P. Pollack and Mark Moran present the definitive account of this shocking cold case.

Review- An interesting story that goes nowhere in the end because of many reasons. The authors write a magazine called Weird New Jersey and they love the weird stories that their state in abundance. So they come to this story with great love and interest in the weird. The story itself is very weird with Jeannette being missing for a few weeks then she is found and has been dead for most of that time and the death is strange. The body was found in an odd place and was surrounded by stones placed around the body in some kind of pattern. But that not the only strange things about the murder, her family was strange, and then more strange things happen, like more murders and no ideas about how they happened. The story ends up feeling very disjointed as we move from strange and creepy murder to another creepy and strange event. The writing is good with a lots of details into the crimes, the families, and the theories but not much on resolution. That maybe because there is not real resolution to the main case, the killer is still unknown and the murder still haunts the community.

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

Horimiya, volume 2

Today's post is on Horimiya, volume 2 by HERO and Daisuke Hagiwara. It is 176 pages long and is published by Yen Press. The cover has the two side characters on it. The intended reader is someone who likes romantic comedies. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the back of the book- The sweet, "aww"- inspiring tale of school life continues!!
By all appearances, Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura are worlds apart. Bright and capable, Hori is always surrounded by classmates, the center of attention. For Miyamura, a quirky loner, getting through class unnoticed counts as a good day. But ever since these two started sharing secrets, they've found themselves drawn into each's other's orbit little by little and the distance between them shrinking bit by bit...

Review- This volume continues the story of people learning about themselves and others around them. We learn a lot about Miyamura in this volume, like he has a temper that he hides very well and he does not think about things like people liking him romantically. That is a major plot point for this volume and is going to let into the next volume at the very least if not the rest of the series. Of the group of friends Hori is really liked by Ishikawa and he believes that Hori really likes Miyamura, which she may or may not that is not the point. The point is that Ishikawa likes her and her does not take him seriously at all. So that what we have in this volume and it play out but not fully and I am curious about how it is going to be handled by the characters.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this manga from a friend.

If You've Got It, Haunt It

Today's post is on If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey. It is the first in her Haunted Vintage Mystery. It is 304 pages long and is published by Kensington. The cover is a picture of the shop with the cat Wind Song. The intended reader is someone who likes cozy mysteries. There is no foul language, no sex, and very mild violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character Cookie. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Cookie Chanel has a passion for fashion--and a murder mystery to solve!
Cookie Chanel has opened her own vintage clothing boutique, It's Vintage, Y'All, in the charming town of Sugar Creek, Georgia. Always on the lookout for stylish second-hand steals, she attends the estate sale of deceased socialite Charlotte Meadows. But she gets a lot more than she bargained for when Charlotte's ghost appears before her--offering fashion advice and begging Cookie to find out who murdered her.
As the persistent poltergeist tags along and a possibly psychic pussycat moves into the shop, Cookie sorts through racks of suspects to see who may be hiding some skeletons in the closet. Do a clothing store owner and a disembodied socialite have a ghost of a chance of collaring a killer--or will Cookie's life be the next one hanging by a thread?

Review- A charming start to a cute series. I really liked all the characters we meet in this volume. Cookie is really funny with a cute take on life, Wind Song is really fun and I want to see more of her. The ghost Charlotte has the most character growth, funny sense she's dead but she does and I really enjoyed it. The mystery is not very hard to figure out, I guessed who that killer was within meeting them for the first time but that's not why you read this book. You read because the characters are so much fun to spend time with. Pressey makes the characters the point of this cozy and that is what makes a story good, having the characters be the heart, the driving force of the story not the plot. I had a really fun time with this novel and I look forward to seeing Cookie, Wind Song, and the others again.

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

The Wilderness of Ruin: A Tale of Madness, Fire, and the Hunt for America's Youngest Serial Killer

Today’s post is on The Wilderness of Ruin: A Tale of Madness, Fire, and the Hunt for America's Youngest Serial Killer by Roseanne Montillo. It is 308 pages long and is published by William Morrow. The cover is a picture of Boston after the great fire in 1872. The intended reader is who is interested in historical true crime. There is mild foul language, talk of sexuality, and descriptions of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- In 1871, young children were disappearing from Boston’s working-class neighborhoods. The few who returned told desperate tales of being taken to the woods and tortured by a boy not much older than themselves. The police were skeptical—these children were from poor families, so their testimony was easily discounted. And after the Great Boston Fire of 1872 reduced much of downtown to rubble, the city had more pressing concerns. Finally, when the police apprehended Jesse Pomeroy for the crimes, he, like any twelve-year-old, was sent off to reform school. Little thought was given to the danger he might pose to society, despite victims’ chilling reports of this affectless Boy Torturer.
Sixteen months later, Jesse was released in the care of his mother, and within months a ten-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy went missing, their mutilated bodies later discovered by police. This set off a frantic hunt for Pomeroy, who was now proclaimed America’s youngest serial killer. When he was captured and brought to trial, his case transfixed the nation, and two public figures—Herman Melville and Oliver Wendell Holmes—each probed the depths of Pomeroy’s character in a search for the meaning behind his madness.
Roseanne Montillo takes us inside those harrowing years, as a city reeling from great disaster reckoned with the moral quandaries posed by Pomeroy’s spree.

Review- This is a true crime book with an eye to the history in general. The story of history of Boston, of serial killers, of mental illness, of famous authors, and of true crime. Montillo wanted to give the reader a good overall insight into the world of Pomeroy, she wants us to understand how he would have been seen in his time without all the armchair detectives who have watched way too much Forensic Files, like myself, and know more about the psychology of serial killers than the best detectives in his day. The narrative is told in parts with some chapters about Pomeroy and his family, with chapters about the detectives, the city of Boston and the people who were studying killers and mental illness at that time. Montillo does excellent research and I had no trouble seeing the world that Pomeroy lived in. At times the other details can be overwhelming and loses the focus of the story, which is murder, but then she will bring it back. If you are interested in historical true crime then you should really enjoy this book.

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.

SP Baby, volume 2

Today's post is on SP Baby, volume 2 by Maki Enjoji. It is the second in her SP Baby doulogy. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has our two main characters on it. The intended reader is someone who likes josei manga and humorous love stories. There is no foul language, mild sexuality, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of Tamaki. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Tamaki, the rookie in the Security Police, is working as a bodyguard for Kagetora Sugou- the prime minster's nephew.
But Kagetora is acting ore lik a a boyfriend than a boss.
Will Tamaki let her guard down and accept his advances?

Review- A cute ending to a sweet, short series. All plot threads are resolved, how Tora first met Tamaki is explained and our couple gets a happily-ever-after. It moves very fast in this volume but worked for the story in my opinion because I did not want to have a lot of back and forth between them. Tora was serious about Tamaki and he did what he needed to get to his girl. Tamaki learned that she is good enough and to let go of the past and embrace her future with Tora and her brother. I would like to have more stories about them in the future but I am happy with the way this manga ended and I hope that we get more Josei series from Shojo Beat in the future.

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.

Bloodborne #1

Today’s post is on Bloodborne #1 by Ales Kot and illustrated by Piotr Kowalski. It is 29 pages long and is published by Titan. The cover is a beautiful picture of Yharnam with the hunter in the center. The intended reader is someone who is interested in and familiar with the video game. There is foul language, no sex, and lots of violence in this comic. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- From the creators of Dark Souls, a brand new comic series spinning out of Fromsoftware/Hidetaka Miyazaki's critically-acclaimed, best-selling Bloodborne videogame! Nominated for eight Golden Joystick Awards! Awakening in an ancient city plagued by a twisted endemic – where horrific beasts stalk the shadows and the streets run slick with the blood of the damned – a nameless hunter embarks on a dangerous quest in search of Paleblood… Written by Image Comics superstar Ales Kot (Generation Gone), with artwork by Piotr Kowalski (Sex, Dark Souls).

Review- The story is very familiar if you have played the game. A nameless hunter moving through the night of the purge in Yharnam, meets different people, and is killed by a Beast. The hunter wakes up in the Hunter’s Dream and it all starts over again. Until the hunter meets a child with Paleblood. The comic does a very good job of the death, rebirth, fight, then death cycle that is the heart of any Soulsborne game play. I liked the storyline, having someone of paleblood in the story, which in the game you are told to seek the paleblood. The art is very pretty with all the gothic themes and rolling darkness that is the constant in the game. If you are a fan of the game then you need to read this comic. I really enjoyed it and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next volume.

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

Siege: How General Washington Kicked the British Out of Boston and Launched a Revolution

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by the publisher.

Today's non-fiction post is on Siege: How General Washington Kicked the British Out of Boston and Launched a Revolution by Roxane Orgill. It is 240 pages long and is published by Candlewick Press. The over is a picture with George Washington on his horse in silhouette. The intended reader is someone who likes stories in verse and want to learn more about how the American Revolution got started. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Step back to British-held Boston and hear the voices of citizens, militiamen, and redcoats at a turning of the tide in the American Revolution, brought to life in Roxane Orgill's deft verse.
It is the summer of 1775. The British occupy Boston and its busy harbor, holding residents captive and keeping a strong military foothold. The threat of smallpox looms, and the town is cut off, even from food supplies. Following the battles of Lexington and Concord, Congress unanimously elects George Washington commander in chief of the American armed forces, and he is sent to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to transform the ragtag collection of volunteer militiamen into America's first army. So far the war is nothing more than a series of intermittent skirmishes, but Washington is in constant fear of attack — until he takes the offensive with results that surprise everyone, the British most of all. Roxane Orgill uses verse to zoom in on the siege of Boston that launched the war to defeat the British, giving voice to privates and generals, their wives and city residents. to tell a story that is usually overlooked in Revolutionary War history. Back matter includes source notes, a glossary, and a bibliography.

Review- Orgill is trying to make history more interesting by telling it in verse. We follow Washington from when he took the role of general all the way to the real beginning of the American Revolution. We follow different characters and the many different problems that they faced from getting cannons to Boston and just feeding the soldiers. The verse types change depending the characters giving them each a unique voice. But it does get old and starts to feel unnatural by the time I finished the book. If you have a good knowledge of the American Revolution you will have an easier time following what is going on but if you are a teen trying to use this book to learn about the American Revolution then you are going to  still have to read a normal history book. This would a be a fun side book to have as you are reading about the American Revolution to add some fun into the history but it will not replace the basic history book itself.

I give this book a Three out of Five stars.

Claymore volume 22: Claws and Fangs of the Abyss

Today's post is on Claymore volume 22: Claws and Fangs of the Abyss by Norihiro Yagi. It is the twentieth-second the long running Claymore series, you need to have read the first twenty-one volumes to understand the story. It is 191 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump Advanced. The cover is an Awakened One on it. The intended reader is someone who likes dark plots, high action, and strong female characters. There is mild foul language, no sexuality, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Rebel Claymores, the Organization that created them, and a host of reanimated top-level warriors clash with savage intensity. The Claymores' demonic impulses are provoked, threatening to destroy their human consciousnesses. Meanwhile, Hysteria, animated by blind vengeance, grows stronger with each attack against her. Is it possible that the rebels will be defeated by their long-dead comrades?

Review- The fights from the previous volume are finished in this one and it ends with a little hinting at what is going where Clare is. Miria comes very close to losing her mind to stop the most powerful of the re-awakened ones but she is stopped and saved by the other Claymores. Really nothing much plot-wise happens in this volume, just fighting, having a ghost of Priscilla appears to scare everyone, then Raki shows up with the younger Claymores. That is the whole volume. I want to get back to Clare and whatever is going on with her and Priscilla. I like seeing the other Claymores be cool but I'm here for Clare and her story. I still think that Raki does nothing for the story and I do not even like him as a plot device. But the fight scenes were good. I hope that we get back to Clare and her story.

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.

There's Someone Inside Your House

Today's post is on There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins. It is 289 pages long and is published by Dutton Books. The cover is dark with bright pink lighting the title and author. The intended reader is young adult and  likes teen slasher movies. The story is told from third person close of different characters as story goes. There is foul language, mild sexuality, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Love hurts...
Makani Young thought she'd left her dark past behind her in Hawaii, settling in with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska. She's found new friends and has even started to fall for mysterious outsider Ollie Larsson. But her past isn't far behind.
Then, one by one, the students of Osborne Hugh begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasingly grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and her feelings for Ollie intensify, Makani is forced to confront her own dark secrets.

Review- I loved the teen slasher movies of the 1990's and this book is tribute to them. It is modern with internet, googling others, and other facets of modern teenage life. Makani is running from the shame of a teen prank gone bad and Ollie is trying to find a more normal life without his parents. Add into this teenage angst a killer who knows how to break and enter homes without being noticed and you have a fun slasher book. The writing is good with just the right amount of real added into the terror of being hunted by an unknown person for reasons unknown. The killer's reason is very novel and I think that it added to his character's drive. It is a good introduction into the slasher genre or if you love the genre already then you will enjoy this book.

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.

Selfie Made: Your Ultimate Guide to Social Media Stardom

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Today’s post is on Selfie Made: Your Ultimate Guide to Social Media Stardom by Meridith Valiando Rojas. It is 272 pages long and is published by Wednesday News. The cover is yellow with a cell phone in the center. The intended reader is young adult and interested in being the next big internet star. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- With just an idea and wi-fi, Meridith Valiando Rojas started her wildly successful company, DigiTour. Now she is sharing her stories, tip and tricks, and more in Selfie Made: Your Ultimate Guide to Social Media Stardom.
Whether you want to be a social star or online entrepreneur, Meridith has you covered! As one of the first companies in the social media ecosystem Meridith and her company DigiTour Media have worked with over 500 social stars from nearly every platform, seeing firsthand how people go viral, grow an audience, and leverage the popularity of the internet to build their brand in front of, or behind the camera. Sharing her personal and zany stories while providing real-world (never shared) advice, Meridith gives a peek behind the curtain of DigiTour and what it's been like working with every major star from YouTube to Musical.ly. With some of her biggest social friends weighing in with advice, Q&A's, sample schedules, and their secret tips and tricks—if you want to launch your online career, this book is for you!

Review- This is a book with some good tips on internet stardom but that about it. Rojas talks about her life, how she made her business, and some ideas about what you can do to make yourself internet famous. But if you looking for anything more than that, then this book is not for you. The real focus of this book is musically based and how to make it in this new music world. If that is what you are interested in, then Rojas has some great advice for you but if you want to something else, like because the next big book reviewer, she does not have anything for you really. But it was still an interesting and easy read with interviews of interesting people, so you do not lose anything by giving this a look.

I give this a Three out of Five stars. 

Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 9: Lover

Today's post is on Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 9: Lover by Yuu Watase. It is 187 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it facing looking in the distance with excitement towards something that the reader cannot see. The intended reader is someone who likes historical fantasy, high fantasy, romance, and shojo stories. There is mild foul language, mild sexuality, and violence in this story. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A much-loved member of the Celestial Warriors of Suzaku has given his life for the sake of a treasure left behind by the god of the North. The Shentso-Pao is one of the keys to summoning the god Suzaku and having Miaka's most cherished wishes granted. Even if she passes the trials and obtains the treasure, can she hold onto it with the murderous Warriors of Seiryu close on her heels?

Review- We start this volume with Nuriko's funeral and everyone is dealing with her death. The Seiryu general, who is the real villain of this series, is just waiting for Maika and company to finish getting the Shentso-Pao so he can steal it from them. Warriors from both sides are starting to drop like flies with two deaths on Seiryu's side and one on Suzaku. But the plot gets bigger from there as the General makes Miaka think that he raped her. I don't think he did, not because he wouldn't but I think that Tamahome got to Miaka in time but she believes it and that's what matters. But now we know for sure that Yui was never raped and one of her warriors in love with her.  I even like that warrior but I do not believe that it is going to end well for them. Decent volume with both plot and character development and I can't wait to see where we are going next.

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. 

To Kill a Mockingbird

I was given a copy of this graphic novel by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.

Today's post is on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee as adapted and Illustrated by Fred Fordham. It is 288 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is a picture of Scout from behind looking at her father and Tom Robinson. The intended reader is someone who likes graphic novels, classic novels, and time tested stories. There is very foul language, talk of rape, and violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of Scout, the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A beautifully crafted graphic novel adaptation of Harper Lee’s beloved, Pulitzer prize–winning American classic.
"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird."
A haunting portrait of race and class, innocence and injustice, hypocrisy and heroism, tradition and transformation in the Deep South of the 1930s, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird remains as important today as it was upon its initial publication in 1960, during the turbulent years of the Civil Rights movement.
Now, this most beloved and acclaimed novel is reborn for a new age as a gorgeous graphic novel. Scout, Gem, Boo Radley, Atticus Finch, and the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, are all captured in vivid and moving illustrations by artist Fred Fordham.

Review- A wonderful adaptation of a classic that adds to the story. Fordham takes a very hard story and gives it new life for a new, younger audience in this graphic novel adaptation. He does not change any of the language, so we read the very hard, very cruel words of 1930's Alabama. He does not change the tragic outcome, with his illustrations he makes the cruelty even more clear with the characters faces and the shock of the ending not lost in translation. By sticking so close to the original story Fordham really brings this tragic tale into the modern reader's hands. The art style is good without being too intricate and that would not have worked with this story and the characters in it. This is a great way to get reluctant readers to try this story and experience it for themselves.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars.

Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game

I was given a copy of this book by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.

Today's post is on Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game by Rob Never. It is 304 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is white with a baseball field on the bottom and a stat sheet as the 'O' in the title on top. There is mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who is interested in baseball both historically and modern. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The former ESPN columnist and analytics pioneer dramatically recreates an action-packed 2017 game between the Oakland A’s and eventual World Series Champion Houston Astros to reveal the myriad ways in which Major League Baseball has changed over the last few decades.
On September 8, 2017, the Oakland A’s faced off against the Houston Astros in a game that would signal the passing of the Moneyball mantle. Though this was only one regular season game, the match-up of these two teams demonstrated how Major League Baseball has changed since the early days of Athletics general manager Billy Beane and the publication of Michael Lewis’ classic book.
Over the past twenty years, power and analytics have taken over the game, driving carefully calibrated teams like the Astros to victory. Seemingly every pitcher now throws mid-90s heat and studiously compares their mechanics against the ideal. Every batter in the lineup can crack homers and knows their launch angles. Teams are relying on unorthodox strategies, including using power-losing—purposely tanking a few seasons to get the best players in the draft.
As he chronicles each inning and the unfolding drama as these two teams continually trade the lead—culminating in a 9-8 Oakland victory in the bottom of the ninth—Neyer considers the players and managers, the front office machinations, the role of sabermetrics, and the current thinking about what it takes to build a great team, to answer the most pressing questions fans have about the sport today.

Review- If I had more understanding of Baseball in general I think I would have gotten more out of this book but that said I still learned a lot about the game and how it is played in our modern time. Never wants to examine baseball in the now but because baseball has a very long history he has to engage with the history of baseball and how we got to the now. The beginning of the book is very stat heavy but as the narrative of this one game continues that gets less and for me that made the story easier to engage with. We get to know the players, their backgrounds, the teams, how runs them, how trading has lead to this game, and over details that add up to the game being played. I really enjoyed learning about the players, the history of the teams, and those details but the stats and the numbers behind the game just flew over my head, I do not blame Never for that but my own lack of knowledge about the game and these stats. If you are a Baseball fan then you should give this book a look but if you want to learn more about Baseball without having a background in Baseball then I would try something else.

I give this a Three out of Five stars.

Claymore volume 21: Remains of the Dead Claws

Today's post is on Claymore volume 21: Remains of the Dead Claws by Norihiro Yagi. It is the twentieth-first the long running Claymore series, you need to have read the first twenty volumes to understand the story. It is 191 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump Advanced. The cover is a close-up of Miria. The intended reader is someone who likes dark plots, high action, and strong female characters. There is mild foul language, no sexuality, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A battle begins between rebel Claymore warriors and the Organization that created them. When the team of seven notorious rebel fighters is joined by an army of newly minted soldiers loyal to rebel leader Miria, it seems their victory is a foregone conclusion. Then the Organization releases its newest secret weapon: reanimated high-level warriors from past generations of Claymores.

Review- This whole volume is about the fight between the Claymores and the Organization. We see lots of fighting with little character development until we get some new characters but that is fine. The new characters are the things that the Organization has been working on, old powerful Claymores that they have resurrected to fight for them. We get to see a lot of about them from their lives before and what happened to them when they turned but before they could awaken. Raki is protecting the young Claymores from the normal soldiers of the Organizations but other than seeing him we get no new plot. And we see nothing of Claire in this volume. I liked seeing more of what the Organization is doing and what they are planning but there is still so much more to see. The volume ends with one of the resurrected Claymores remembering why she died and it looks like she is going to finish awakening.

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.

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

Today's post is on Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley. It is 256 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is white with a red rose on it. The intended reader is someone who likes fairy tale retellings. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character Beauty. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- "Like all of the other doors I had met in the castle, this one opened at my approach. The room it revealed was a large, warm, and gracious one. On one wall to my left a first was burning in a fireplace; two armchairs were drawn up before it. One chair was empty. In the other a massive shadow sat. I caught a gleam of dark-green velvet on what might have been a knee in the shadowed armchair.
"'Good evening, Beauty,' said a great harsh voice."
A young woman, well educated and honourable, accepts responsibility for her father's act and leaves her family to enter the enchanted world of castle and Beast. The Beast she finds is not the one she imagined, but can she stay with him?
A gifted storyteller embellishes the classic tale, developing a new and very real world of her own in a love story that has all the wonder and magic of the fairy tale.

Review- This is one of the best, not the best, retelling of Beauty and the Beast. McKinley is a master of her craft and she gives everything she has in this retelling. Everything is perfect in this novel from the pacing, the characterization, way the castle works, and the relationship between Beauty and her Beast. Beauty is a nickname, her birth name is Honor, and she does not feel very beautiful at all. The Beast is not a young man still angry with his curse but someone who has made some peace with the curse and the choices that he made that invited it into his life. Beauty's sisters are kind and loving, and Beauty herself is more than just a victim in this story. She is clever and wants to have an active role in her choices and life. I love everything about this book. I first read this book about 25 years and I still love it so much today. Everyone should read this book and remember the magic of fairy tales.

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

Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Quirk Books.

Today’s post is on Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction by Gabrielle Moss. It is 256 pages long and is published by Quirk Books. The cover is a picture of three girls on a bed with a horse poster behind them reading a book. The intended reader is someone who is interested in the history of young adult books and publishing or someone who read and loved those books as a teen and tween. There is some mild foul language, talk of sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A hilarious and nostalgic trip through the history of paperback pre-teen series of the 80s and 90s.
Every twenty- or thirty-something woman knows these books. The pink covers, the flimsy paper, the zillion volumes in the series that kept you reading for your entire adolescence. Spurred by the commercial success of Sweet Valley High and The Babysitters Club, these were not the serious-issue YA novels of the 1970s, nor were they the blockbuster books of the Harry Potter and Twilight ilk. They were cheap, short, and utterly beloved.
PAPERBACK CRUSH dives in deep to this golden age with affection, history, and a little bit of snark. Readers will discover (and fondly remember) girl-centric series on everything from correspondence (Pen Pals and Dear Diary) to sports (The Pink Parrots, Cheerleaders, and The Gymnasts) to a newspaper at an all-girls Orthodox Jewish middle school (The B.Y. Times) to a literal teen angel (Teen Angels: Heaven Can Wait, where an enterprising guardian angel named Cisco has to earn her wings “by helping the world’s sexist rock star.”) Some were blatant ripoffs of the successful series (looking at you, Sleepover Friends and The Girls of Canby Hall), some were sick-lit tearjerkers à la Love Story (Abby, My Love) and some were just plain perplexing (Uncle Vampire??) But all of them represent that time gone by of girl-power and endless sessions of sustained silent reading.
In six hilarious chapters (Friendship, Love, School, Family, Jobs, Terror, and Tragedy), Bustle Features Editor Gabrielle Moss takes the reader on a nostalgic tour of teen book covers of yore, digging deep into the history of the genre as well as the stories behind the best-known series.

Review- I read Paperbacks from Hell and loved it so much. It was funny, the history about the books was interesting, and the writing was engaging. Quirk Books did it again with Paperback Crush. Moss starts in the 1880’s with the first book about a young adult and moves forward to the 1990’s. The book is broken up by genre like jobs, family, taboo topics, and of course teen slasher novels. Within the sections Moss discusses quirks of the particular genre like troublesome siblings or ghost boyfriends, the covers and what made them so unique to the YA field, and the writing style as it changed from very realistic to vampire boyfriends. The only sex talk is very basic and is just covering what is in the books themselves without being sensational. This was a wonderful romp in some of the best and worst YA fiction and I highly recommend it.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars.