Yona of the Dawn, volume 4

Today's post is on Yona of the Dawn, volume 4 by Mizuho Kusanagi. It is the fourth in her Yona of the Dawn series. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Princess Yona and Yoon hugging each other smiling. 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 from other characters to give insight into their thoughts and feelings. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- While on a quest to find the Four Legendary Dragon Warriors, Yona and her friends meet Gija, the White Dragon. Gija uses his power to detect the other Dragons, but locating the Blue Dragon proves to be more difficult than expected, and the group runs into a string of disasters!

Review- With the White Dragon Gija, Yona and company start hunting for the next dragon. But of course is not smooth sailing. Hak does not want Gija, sees no need for him, Gijia wants nothing more than to serve Yona, thinks that Hak should get lost and they get into from there. The humor is a nice break from the dark backstory of murder and betrayal. The Blue Dragon's village is nothing like Gija's and he is an outcast, feared and hated for his dragon eyes. The poor guy has been alone for most of his life and has never had anyone to really stand by him. The previous Blue Dragon did what he could but it was harsh. I like where the story is going with Yona not being afraid to reach out to others and keep her open heart.  Hak's funny without meaning to be with his mild jealously and Yona being so clueless about his feelings for her. It ends with a cliff hanger and I cannot wait to see how she is going to save the Blue Dragon.

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 Issue #2

Today's post is on Bloodborne Issue #2 by Ales Kot, illustrated by Piotr Kowalski and Brad Simpson. It is 29 pages long and is published by Titan Comics. The cover has the hunter and the paleblood child on it. The intended reader is someone who has read the first issue. There is no foul language, no sex, but there is violence in this issue. The story is told from third person close of the hunter. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- 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!

Review- Another excellent issue in this series. We pick up right we left off with the nameless hunter taking the paleblood child and running from the beast that hunts for it. We get to see more of the hunter and the dark world of Bloodborne as they run from the beast into other monsters of the night. We see the hunter's face but that does not really make her seem more personal and more importantly we see what the paleblood child can do. The art is great with details but I did not feel grossed out by the blood and gore that is everything in the story and the game. I am very curious about the paleblood child and I keep remembering from when I played the game that there was always talk of the paleblood but I do not recall if I ever really learned anything about them. Probably just missed some lore on an item but that is part of why I am enjoying this comic so much, is to learn more about the world that I missed in my playing of the game. I cannot wait to read the next issue.

I give this issue a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this issue from my local library's Hoopla account.

The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction

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

Today's non-fiction post is on The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon. It is 304 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is beige with books on it as the only color on the cover. The intended reader is someone who is interested in non-fiction. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A Wall Street Journal writer’s conversation-changing look at how reading aloud makes adults and children smarter, happier, healthier, more successful and more closely attached, even as technology pulls in the other direction.
A miraculous alchemy occurs when one person reads to another, transforming the simple stuff of a book, a voice, and a bit of time into complex and powerful fuel for the heart, brain, and imagination. Grounded in the latest neuroscience and behavioral research, and drawing widely from literature, The Enchanted Hour explains the dazzling cognitive and social-emotional benefits that await children, whatever their class, nationality or family background. But it’s not just about bedtime stories for little kids: Reading aloud consoles, uplifts and invigorates at every age, deepening the intellectual lives and emotional well-being of teenagers and adults, too.
Meghan Cox Gurdon argues that this ancient practice is a fast-working antidote to the fractured attention spans, atomized families and unfulfilling ephemera of the tech era, helping to replenish what our devices are leaching away. For everyone, reading aloud engages the mind in complex narratives; for children, it’s an irreplaceable gift that builds vocabulary, fosters imagination, and kindles a lifelong appreciation of language, stories and pictures.
Bringing together the latest scientific research, practical tips, and reading recommendations, The Enchanted Hour will both charm and galvanize, inspiring readers to share this invaluable, life-altering tradition with the people they love most.

Review- An interesting and informative read about what reading does for and to the brain. Gurdon gives many examples from her person life and to many studies done at different universities. She handles the information without getting over-whelming the reader. The writing is very good with lots of interesting stories from any different individuals in different stages of life. Gurdon does spend most of the book with the younger children in mind and what is going on in their brains and what reading together out aloud is doing for the brain. She does touch on reading aloud in later life and how powerful it still is especially for people who are during some kind of trauma. It was a very good read with lots if information and I really had a good time reading it but not aloud. If you interested in brain science this you should read this.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars.

Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, volume 2

Today's post is on Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, volume 2 by Megumi Morino. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. It is the second in her Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty series. The cover has the two main characters on it. The intended reader is someone who has read the first volume, likes shojo manga, and retelling of fairy tales. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this story. The story is told from third persons close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- THE UNINVITED
Despite being a scaredy-cat and crybaby, high schooler Tetsu finds himself working at the eerie estate on the hill, where Shizu–the only child of the Karasawa family–is secreted away. However, his friendship with Shizu quickly turns to fear when several spirits of the dead appear before him, borrowing her appearance. As he struggles to find the humanity in her supernatural condition, Tetsu must also face a question at once terrifying and heartbreaking: What if the true Shizu never returns?

Review- We pick up right where left off with Tetsu working for and being afraid of working for Shizu. But he has some hard things to think about concerning her. She is avoiding Tetsu because she does not want to frighten anyone but it more than just that. She does not have the basic will to live. A ghost follow Tetsu and possesses her and then refuses to leave because if Shizu does not want to live her life then he should do it for her. That makes Tetsu start to really think about Shizu and the kind of lonely life she has had to live up to now. This volume was slow to get going but once Tetus started to deal with the ghost and Shizu, it starting going faster. I am curious about how Shizu can be saved and who in her family does not want that and why.

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 Beauty, vol 1

Today’s post is on The Beauty, vol 1 by Jeremy Haun, Jason A. Hurley, John Rauch (Colorist), Fonografiks (Letterer). It is 164 pages long and is published by Image Comics. The cover has a woman with a burned out face standing in front some flowering vines. The intended reader is someone who likes dark, futurist comics.  There is foul language, sex and sexuality, and violence in this comic. The story is told from third person close of one of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Modern society is obsessed with outward beauty. What if there was a way to guarantee you could become more and more beautiful every day? What if it was a sexually transmitted disease?
In the world of The Beauty, physical perfection is only one sexual encounter away. The vast majority of the population has taken advantage of it, but Detectives Vaughn and Foster will soon discover it comes at a terrible cost. Now, they'll have to find their way past corrupt politicians, vengeful federal agents, and a terrifying mercenary out to collect the price on their heads.

Review- This is a magnetizing read about a new future world with a very unusual plague. The comic starts with some descriptions of the current state of the world with about half of the total population having The Beauty and the other half looking down on them for having it. Then people start dying. The deaths are not too graphic but you get the idea. The art is very good with people who have the Beauty looking like they glow and people without it look washed out, not ugly or anything so easy as that, just not as impressive as the infected. The plot moves very quickly but I never felt lost to what was going on. The ending was and was not a cliff-hanger with the cure being released but will it work on a massive scale is to be seen. If you are looking for a new adult comic to get into, then I recommend The Beauty.

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

Girl Squads: 20 Female Friendships That Changed History

Today's Non-fiction post is on Girl Squads: 20 Female Friendships That Changed History by Sam Maggs. it is 272 pages long and is published by Quirk Books. The cover is multi-colored with different groups of women in the different colors. The intended reader is someone who is interested in women's history. There is no foul language, no sex, and discussion of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A modern girl is nothing without her squad of besties. But don't let all the hashtags fool you: the #girlsquad goes back a long, long time. In this hilarious and heartfelt book, geek girl Sam Maggs takes you on a tour of some of history's most famous female BFFs, including:
• Anne Bonny and Mary Read, the infamous lady pirates who sailed the seven seas and plundered with the best of the men
• Jeanne Manon Roland and Sophie Grandchamp, Parisian socialites who landed front-row seats (from prison) to the French Revolution
• Sharon and Shirley Firth, the First Nations twin sisters who would go on to become Olympic skiers and break barriers in the sport
• The Edinburgh Seven, the band of pals who fought to become the first women admitted to medical school in the United Kingdom
• The Zohra Orchestra, the ensemble from Afghanistan who defied laws, danger, and threats to become the nation's first all-female musical group
And many more! Spanning art, science, politics, activism, and even sports, these girl squads show just how essential female friendship has been throughout history and throughout the world. Sam Maggs brings her signature wit and warmth as she pays tribute to the enduring power of the girl squad. Fun, feisty, and delightful to read—with empowering illustrations by artist Jenn Woodall—it's the perfect gift for your BFF.

Review- This is an interesting nonfiction book about different women and their friendships and how they changed their worlds. We travel over the world and in different times to learn the stories of these women. The research is excellent with good notes for further personal research, the stories are interesting each different from the others, and the writing is engaging. A very good place to start learning women's history and how it has been ignored by main stream history.

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

Yona of the Dawn, volume 3

Today's post is on Yona of the Dawn, volume 3 by Mizuho Kusanagi. It is the third in her Yona of the Dawn series. It is 190 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Princess Yona and Su-Won on it facing each other with blades drawn. 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 from other characters to give insight into their thoughts and feelings. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Yona and Hak set out on a journey to find a priest who can see the future. After they get severely injured falling from a cliff, a boy named Yun and his guardian Ik-su nurse them back to health- and Ik-su happens to be a priest! When Yona tells him that she wishes to protect the lives of those who are precious to her, what path will Ik-su show her?

Review- I loved the world building we get in this volume. We get maps, we get directions, we get an idea about how big Yona's kingdom is, and how dangerous it is as it is surrounded by more powerful nations with ambitions. Yona goes seeking a priest for guidance and in the process starts learning about her kingdom in reality not from what she was told at the palace. She is sent on a quest to find the descendants of the four dragons who helped her ancestor, The Crimson Dragon King, as he traveled and ruled the land thousands of years ago. Plus we get some character growth from Yona as she decides that she needs to know in order to defend herself if the worst happens. I am very pleased with this volume and I cannot wait to read the next one.

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.

Dumplin’

Today’s post is on Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy. 384 pages long and is published by Balzer + Bray. The cover is black with the main character in center in a red dress. The intended reader is someone who likes young adult books, strong woman finding their way, and uplifting stories. There is 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- Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.
Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.
With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

Review- I loved this book. It is wonderful, empowering, well-written, and some great characters. Willowdean is awesome, she is a very real mix of confident and unsure, she is growing into an adult with all the changes that can bring, and she is learning how to handle that. Add in a ‘perfect’ mom, beautiful thin best friend, hot guy who is into her, and you have a great mix. I liked that the real villain was what Willowdean thought things should be, how Bo should not really be into her, how her mother is ashamed of her, how she cannot have ‘nice’ things because she is not a size four. These issues are not magically fixed at the end of the book but Willowdean is getting some perspective on herself, life, and where the real world meets them both. I like where the book ended with Willowdean being happy with her role in the pageant and the friends she makes on the way. I highly recommend this book.

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.

Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 10: Enemy

Today's post is on Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 10: Enemy by Yuu Watase. It is 183 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it facing facing the reader with excitement. 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- Thinking that her mission has failed, Miaka has run off to the land of Xi-Lang, where a warrior of her archenemy, the God Seiryu, find her! And before the adventure is over, Miaka will find out who are allies, who are enemies, and who is determined to see her dead!

Review- We get to continue dealing with Miaka thinking that she has been raped and that she has no worth anymore but that does get dealt with over the course of the volume. She gets saved by someone who looks just like a Seiyru warrior, who we thought was dead, but of course is not and he is the one to help her see that she has value because she is Miaka not the priestess of Suzaku. He has had a change of heart and does not want to help with the Seiryu cause anymore because he sees that it is only causing great pain to others and innocent people. The Suzaku warriors are all still trapped in illusion and are slowing dying but I am sure that Miaka, Tamahome, and Suboshi will get them free. This volume is very fast with character development happening but not too much plot wise. More Drama Ahead!

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.

You Will Be Mine

Today’s post is on You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston. It is 304 pages long is published by Sourcebooks. The cover is dark with a box in the center with a flower and note in it. The intended reader is someone young adult and likes popcorn horror. There is mild foul language, no sex, and mild 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- ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE WATCH YOUR BACK I'M COMING FOR YOU
Lylah and her friends can't wait to spend a night out together. Partying is the perfect way to let loose from the stress of life and school, and Lylah hopes that hitting the dance floor with Chace, her best friend, will bring them closer together. She's been crushing on him since they met. If only he thought of her the same way... The girls are touching up their makeup and the guys are sliding on their coats when the doorbell rings. No one is there. An envelope sits on the doormat. It's an anonymous note addressed to their friend Sonny. A secret admirer? Maybe. They all laugh it off. Except Sonny never comes home.

Review- This is a fun, popcorn intro horror novel. The characters are pretty normal for a young adult horror story with the damaged but brave heroine, the cute want-to-be boyfriend, and the grisly murders that happen off camera. Preston does not break any molds with this novel but she does make good intro horror. This is perfect for a person who wants to get into horror or who likes a little horror but not too scary. It has some intense moments but nothing that will give the reader nightmares, just a fun little chills. The killer was a little bit of a surprise but I was just glad it was not the boyfriend, that would have been to cliché for me. Fun beach read for the light horror fans.

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