Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, Vol. 4

Today’s post is on Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, Vol. 4 by Rin Mikimoto. It is 192 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Kaede on it looking at Nana who is on the inside cover. As it is the fourth volume in the series, you need to have read the first three volumes in the series. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo romance manga and the complications found in them. The story is told from third person close of mostly Nina but sometimes from other characters for plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- LOVE’S FIRST KISS 

Kaede has set up a date to give Hinana her long-awaited first kiss, and the two of them enjoy a magical day at a theme park. But before they can share their promised kiss, a chance encounter with Akira brings unforeseen complications. Then, even more drama unfurls when Kaede’s ex-girlfriend catches wind of the fact that he is now dating someone else…!

Review- Nana and Kaede are getting closer as she learns more about him and his past. They are mostly apart in this volume as he is filming a new series with the new complication, his ex-girlfriend. She is an interesting character who I think will add more to the story than the normal ex storyline would. She has some real personality traits, other than being Kaede's ex and that gives her some depth. Kaede’s former bandmates, will be interesting to see more of, because I want to know what happened. Plus Nana’s friend is working up his nerve to ask her out. So all in all a very solid volume adding some good things to the overall plot and I’m looking forward to see what is going to happen 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.

The Lost Village

Today’s post is on The Lost Village by Camilla Sten. It is 340 pages long and is published by Minotaur Books. The cover is a house standing alone with fog around it. It is a stand alone horror novel. The intended reader is someone who likes horror, thrillers, and mystery novels. There is some foul language, no sex, and some violence in this novel. The story is told from the first person perspective of Alice the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt has been obsessed with the vanishing residents of the old mining town, dubbed “The Lost Village,” since she was a little girl. In 1959, her grandmother’s entire family disappeared in this mysterious tragedy, and ever since, the unanswered questions surrounding the only two people who were left—a woman stoned to death in the town center and an abandoned newborn—have plagued her. She’s gathered a small crew of friends in the remote village to make a film about what really happened.

But there will be no turning back.

Not long after they’ve set up camp, mysterious things begin to happen. Equipment is destroyed. People go missing. As doubt breeds fear and their very minds begin to crack, one thing becomes startlingly clear to Alice:

They are not alone.

They’re looking for the truth…

But what if it finds them first?

Review- A wonderful and atmospheric horror novel. Sixty years ago every man, woman, and child in Silverjarn went missing with the expectation of a baby and a murdered woman. Alice’s grandmother was from the village and had moved to Stockholm before everything changed. Alice and her friend Tone want to understand what happened there and they are going to make a documentary about it. But when they get to Silverjarn, strange things start to happen. Sten is a great writer, she knows how to build a tense story with interesting characters. There is one big red herring and I did not go with it but it was a fine subplot. What really happened in Silverjarn was horrible and I was very glad that the murder of the one woman was not in too much detail because it was horrible. The resolve of the mystery was good and I was impressed by the whole plot. I would recommend this novel, and I really enjoyed this novel and I look forward to reading more by Sten. 

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

Something's Wrong With Us, Vol. 2

Today’s post is on Something's Wrong With Us, Vol. 2 by Natsumi Andō. It is 160 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has the two main characters on it, Nao and Tsubaki, dressed in wedding clothes. As it is the second in the series you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes josei manga and dark revenge themed stories. There is some very mild foul language, mild sexuality, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from third person close of mostly Nao but other characters for plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Under the Full Moon

Even after her mother's passing, Nao continues to make wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets, to feel less alone. All who have a taste of her confections are floored by the heart she imbues into her work, but being a no-name new talent summons the jealous ire of established family businesses like Kogetsuan. Moreover, Nao has married into Kogetsuan through Tsubaki, the contested heir...to find out why he framed her mother for murder years ago. Now living under the watchful eye of in-laws, Nao must keep her past connections to Kogetsuan a secret, and Tsubaki may be her most formidable ally yet.

Review- The plot grows deeper as Nao’s mother-in-law is trying very hard to get rid of her, including losing a client over it. But Tsubaki has decided that he will fight to keep Nao but what his real reasoning is still unknown. Add in the threat of being found out and we have a very tense manga. I am enjoying this deeper suspense love story but I’m not sure about Tsubaki. He is truly convinced that Nao’s mother killed his father and I don’t think that he is lying but what did he really see that night, no doubt that will be a very major plot point whenever it is revealed. If you like darker themed loved stories then you may want to give this series a look.  

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.

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

Today’s post is on Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Pugh (Illustrations). It is 196 pages long and is published by DC Ink. The cover has Harley on it with a bat. The intended reader is someone who likes DC comics, their characters, and re-imagining of their origins. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this graphic novel. The story is told from third person close of Harley. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Harleen is a tough, outspoken, rebellious kid who lives in a ramshackle apartment above a karaoke cabaret owned by a drag queen named MAMA. Ever since Harleen's parents split, MAMA has been her only family. When the cabaret becomes the next victim in the wave of gentrification that's taking over the neighborhood, Harleen gets mad.

When Harleen decides to turn her anger into action, she is faced with two choices: join Ivy, who's campaigning to make the neighborhood a better place to live, or join The Joker, who plans to take down Gotham one corporation at a time.

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass is at once a tale of the classic Harley readers know and love, and a heartfelt story about the choices teenagers make and how they can define--or destroy--their lives. This is the first title in DC's new line of original graphic novels for middle grade and young adult readers.

Review- This is a pretty good but not great re-imagining of Harley and her origins. Harley’s mother is working on a cruise so Harley has been sent to live with her grandmother. But her grandmother is dead, so Harley improvises and she stays with her grandmother’s landlord. She goes to Gotham high and gets involved with others and the community problems. My main issue with this comic is that it changes how smart Harley is. She is not dumb but she not as smart as she should be. That is my only problem with this comic, the art is good, the characters are interesting and fun, and the overall plot is interesting. I would recommend this comic. 

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

Skip Beat!, Vol. 22

Today’s post is on Skip Beat!, Vol. 22 by Yoshiki Nakamura. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Kyoko launching herself at the reader. As it is the twenty-second volume in the long running series you need to have read the first twenty-one to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of mainly Kyoko but sometimes from other characters for plot and character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Is there such a thing as being too good? With Ren's help, Kyoko finally gets into her new character. But when she shows up on set and wows the crew with her new spin on the old bully role, it sends some of her costars over the edge! Kyoko's used to dealing with her own demons, but can she stand up to someone else's?!

Review- Kyoko finally gets invested in her new character for Box R and she changes everything on set. The villain for this arc is a fellow actress, Chiori, who is dealing with her past and for some dumb reason decides to take it out on Kyoko. But as always Kyoko is the star and she is just the best. From how she gets Ren to help learn to walk like a model to how she expresses herself as Nastu, Kyoko pulls out all the stops. I do have pity for the other girl and so does Kyoko but that doesn’t excuse her behavior, like pushing Kyoko down the stairs. I can’t wait to read the next volume and see how that resolves. 

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.

Limetown

Today’s post is on Limetown by  Cote Smith, Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie. It is 287 pages long and is published by Simon & Schuster. The cover is white with a house on it upside up on top and upside down under the title. The intended reader is someone who is familiar with the podcast. There is mild foul language, no sex, and some violence in this novel. The story is told from third person of the two main characters Lia and Emile. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- On a seemingly ordinary day, seventeen-year-old Lia Haddock hears news that will change her life forever: three hundred men, women, and children living at a research facility in Limetown, Tennessee, have disappeared without a trace. Among the missing is Emile Haddock, Lia’s uncle.

What happened to the people of Limetown? It’s all anyone can talk about. Except Lia’s parents, who refuse to discuss what might have happened there. They refuse, even, to discuss anything to do with Emile.

As a student journalist, Lia begins an investigation that will take her far from her home, discovering clues about Emile’s past that lead to a shocking secret—one with unimaginable implications not only for the people of Limetown, but for Lia and her family. The only problem is…she’s not the only one looking for answers.

Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie are first-rate storytellers, in every medium. Critics called their podcast Limetown “creepy and otherworldly” (The New York Times) and “endlessly fun” (Vox), and their novel goes back to where it all began. Working with Cote Smith, a PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize Finalist, they’ve crafted an exhilarating mystery that asks big questions about what we owe to our families and what we owe to ourselves, about loss, discovery, and growth. Threaded throughout is Emile’s story—told in these pages for the first time ever.

Review- An interesting addition to the Limetown lore but unnecessary overall. As a huge fan of the podcast I was thrilled when the novel was published. It happens before the podcast and gives background into the two most important people in the podcast. But the novel, while it adds to the backstory, does nothing to advance the narrative. It is set in the past by some years for Lia and many years for Emile. We see Emile from a young age, already different and struggling with his abilities, when he finds out that those abilities run in the family. Lia does not remember her uncle Emile at all when the city Limetown is destroyed and no one wants to talk about it. She becomes obsessed with what happened. I did enjoy reading about Emile and what happened in his life to make him create Limetown but I also feel that this novel was wasted potential. If you are a huge Limetown podcast fan, you should enjoy this but if not then you should miss this novel. 

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. 

Midnight Secretary, Vol. 6

Today’s post is on Midnight Secretary, Vol. 6 by Tomu Ohmi. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover is dark blue with Kyohei and Kaya on it. As it is the sixth in the series you need to have read the first five volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes josei manga and vampire love stories. There is very mild foul language, sex and sexuality, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from third person close of Kaya. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Kyohei has finally admitted that he loves Kaya, and he's even stopped feeding on other women. But even though they've worked out their personal issues, their dual roles as boss/secretary and vampire/human are still a huge hurdle to overcome. Can Kaya and Kyohei stand up to the disapproval of the business world and the vampire world?!

Review- This volume has some great movement in Kaya and Kyohei’s relationship with them being more open about it. We also get to see more vampire politics as they think Kaya is pregnant and try to kidnap her. The elders of the vampire clan are trying to make Kyohei have a baby and if he won’t with Kaya then she needs to get out of the way. Of course that goes over well with them both. The head of the clan is going to make Kyohei’s life more difficult but with only one volume left, I’m sure it will work out just fine. I’m curious about how everything is to be in the end but I’m looking forward to seeing 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.

Grim Death and Bill the Electrocuted Criminal

Today’s post is on Grim Death and Bill the Electrocuted Criminal by Mike Mignola and Tom Sniegoski. It is 272 pages long and is published by St. Martin's Press. The cover is an illustration of Grim Death with a raven and ghosts behind him. There is very mild foul language, no sex, and some violence in this illustrated novel. The intended reader is someone who likes classic style pulp fiction and weird stories. The story is told from third person close of different characters moving from one chapter to another. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- An uneasiness festers upon the city streets, threatening the peace and safety of law abiding citizens. A war is escalating, and it seems as though the good and righteous are being crushed beneath the unholy weight of evil’s onslaught. Organized crime is spreading in an unchecked reign of terror.

Until a mysterious agent of retribution rises up from the shadows to challenge the villains. A lone figure, clad in a slouch hat and clothes seemingly stitched from the blackest shadows, masked in the guise of a skull-faced death—a Grim Death—emerges with guns blazing. With him, a wronged ex-con clad in the striped costume of his misfortune—Bill the Electrocuted Criminal.

In this beautifully illustrated 1930s Pulp-style novel, two dark new characters by New York Times bestselling author and comic book writer Tom Sniegoski and New York Times bestselling, award-winning creator of Hellboy Mike Mignola who also worked on the Hellboy movies with Guillermo del Toro, take to the street to fight the growing infection of organized crime. Grim Death and Bill the Electrocuted Criminal are not your average heroes, but they want justice.

Review- A wonderful homage to the classic pulp fiction of the 1920-1940’s. Bentley should have died young but instead Death has chosen him. So Bentley becomes Grim Death and gets vengeance for those killed before their time. He sees ghosts who cannot move on until they are given justice so when the ghost of a young woman comes to him for justice he must discover what really happened  to her and the man who says he killed her. Sprinkled with illustrations from Mignola which add to the overall feel of classic pulp weird. I had a wonderful time reading this book and I would love it if Mignola and Sniegoski would come back and write more in this world. If you are a fan of classic pulp then you need to read this novel. 

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

Waiting for Spring, Vol. 6

Today’s post is on Waiting for Spring, Vol. 6 by Anashin. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Mitsuki on it looking very cute. As it is the sixth in the series you need to have read the first five volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, high school romances, and coming of age stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Mitsuki. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A MOST FESTIVE RIVALRY

In her efforts to become a more proactive person, Mitsuki has agreed to join the school festival committee. Now she must lead the class in putting together a cafe for the day of the big event. Towa has agreed to help her, but his mind is elsewhere. His team is about to have a joint practice with Hōjō, and he and Aya will finally have a basketball showdown...! 

Review- Mitsuki is trying to become braver by making herself do things like be a leader in class. She is going well and I’m proud of her for reaching out. Towa is trying to make his feelings better known to her and Aya is not going to stand aside without a fight. The characters are what makes this story so great and so much fun add in the lite sports theme and we have a very enjoyable shojo manga. Mitsuki is a good main character with a willingness to change to make her goals happen. Towa is very cute as he tries to be the best man he can be. I find this series to be very relaxing and enjoyable. I look forward to the next volume. 

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.