My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (Manga) Vol. 4

Today’s post is on My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (Manga) Vol. 4 by Satoru Yamaguchi, Nami Hidaka (Illustrations). It is 176 pages long and is published by Seven Seas. The cover has Katarina on it with her brother Keith and friend Nicol behind her. As it the the fourth in the series you need to have read the first three volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes otome games, humorous manga, and making fun of tropes. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from third person close of mostly Katarina but with lots of asides from other characters in this volume. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Asleep and Scheming

After Katarina discovered that the student council president Sirius Deek was a hidden villain in the dating sim she was reborn into, she fell under the spell of his black magic. Now, in a deep sleep, she must navigate her previous life to uncover information that will help her save Maria from the same fate. Will she fate in time to defeat Sirius? Or will Katarina finally meet her doom?

Review- An excellent volume in a series that I just love. Katarina is in a sleeping beauty from Sirius and she will die unless she can be woken up. Of course everyone is trying their best on their side but Katarina is dreaming about her life before. She is happy to see her family again but she doesn’t belong there anymore and her best friend helps her to wake up. It is a very moving scene between the two of them and it revealed that her best friend, Acchan, is now Sophia in this new life. Of course Katarina saves the day and her life. I have so enjoyed this series and I look forward to the next volume. 

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

Fever

Today’s post is on Fever by Lauren DeStefano. It is the second in her The Chemical Garden trilogy. It is 341 pages long and is published by Simon and Schuster. The cover is tan with a girl in the middle holding a tarot card. As it is the second novel in the trilogy you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. There is mild foul language, discussing of sex and sexuality, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from first person close of the main character, Rhine. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.
Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.
The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

Review- Rhine and Gabriel have escaped and are on the run into a world that neither of them know. Most of the story is about Rhine and Gabriel seeing what the world is really like now and doing their best to not die. Gabriel is sweet and loyal but in over his head and Rhine is getting sick but not with whatever kills young adults, something else, something her father in law did to her. I enjoyed this volume more than the first one, I liked seeing more of the world, I liked seeing Rhine and Gabriel working together and exploring the world in their search for Rhine’s twin. The world is hard and our heroes learn over the course of the story and grow. The ending is good with Rhine seeing her brother and now she has a fight to get free from her father in law. I am curious about how the story is going to end. 

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

History is Delicious

Today’s nonfiction post is on History is Delicious by Joshua Lurie and Laura Foy (Illustrator). It is 80 pages long and is published by Honest History. The cover is an illustration of different foods from around the world. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who wants to know more about food history at a basic level or has children who are curious about world foods. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A delicious children’s book by Honest History uncovering the history of cuisine and culture from around the globe. From well-known cultures to those just being rediscovered, History Is Delicious explores the history of different dishes, cultural traditions, and even a few great recipes. What does Ethiopian cuisine look and taste like? Find out for yourself with each beautifully illustrated page that makes learning about food fun. Discover the role cuisine plays in the fabric of unique cultures from around the world and enjoy some great tasting food along the way. Featured sections include History of European Cuisine, Dining "Do's and Don'ts," Dumplings of the World, Recipes from Around the World, and so much more.

Review- A great food about food history for young readers with some fun recipes to try out. Lurie takes the reader all around the world and through the history of food. He uses straight forward language, not too simple or too complex, to guide the reader and inform them. Foy’s illustrations are very cute but good reflections of the real foods and ingredients used to create the foods. The recipes are simple enough for a child to do with some help from a parent and are tasty projects to help tie the book’s topic to real world  applications. I would recommend this book and I had a good time reading it. 

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. 

Knight of the Ice, Vol. 4

Today’s post is on Knight of the Ice, Vol. 4 by Yayoi Ogawa. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Kokoro dressed in his new costume for his new program. As it is the fourth in the series you need to have read the first three volumes in the series to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The intended reader is someone who likes sports and romance manga. The story is told from third person close of mostly Chitose. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- ON THIN ICE

Chitose and Kokoro start to take baby steps in adjusting from childhood friends to lovers, but their newfound relationship soon finds itself on thin ice. After the paparazzi catches model Liza Shibata leaving Kokoro's apartment, rumors begin spreading that the two of them are a couple. Chitose knows that the rumors are groundless, but still can't help but feel a pang of jealously. Meanwhile, Kokoro tries to show Chitose that he only has eyes for her, but for an otaku like Kokoro who doesn't know the first thing about romance, that may be easier said than done... 

Review- We are starting to get romance complications between Chitose and Kokoro, like his family wanting to marry him off to an heiress, still unknown, and a model who pretends to be his girlfriend to get into his apartment. His family is going to be a problem for them but how will Kokoro handle them? Does he love Chitose enough to not put up with their actions or is he going to be wishy-washy? I’m afraid that he is going to be wishy-washy but I could be wrong. That is pretty much all that happened in this volume with the addition of two cheek kisses but no other movement either plot or character. But a slow volume is not bad. I hope we get more plot development in 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.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy

Today’s post is on Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia and  Gabriel Picolo (Illustrator). It is 208 pages long and is published by DC Ink. The cover has Gar on it starting to transform. The intended reader is someone who likes DC Comics and their characters. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this graphic novel. The story is told from third person close of Gar. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the back of the book- Garfield Logan has spent his entire life being overlooked. Even in a small town like Eden, Georgia, the 17-year-old with green streaks in his hair can’t find a way to stand out–and the clock is ticking. Senior year is almost over. If Gar doesn’t find a way to impress the Chosen Ones–the social elite at Bull Creek High School–he will never know what it’s like to matter. Gar’s best friends, Stella and Tank, don’t understand why he cares what other people think. They miss their funny, pizza-loving, video game-obsessed best friend. Then Gar accepts a wild dare out of the blue. It impresses the Chosen Ones and his social status soars. But other things are changing, too. Gar grows six inches overnight. His voice drops and, suddenly, he’s stronger and faster. He’s finally getting everything he wanted, but his newfound popularity comes at a price. Gar has to work harder to impress his new friends. The dares keep getting bigger and the stakes keep getting higher. When Gar realizes the extent of his physical changes, he has to dig deep and face the truth about himself–and the people who truly matter–before his life spirals out of control.

Review- Another good introduction to a DC character. Garfield Logan is feeling stuck in his life. He is short, he can’t get any muscle, and all the girls ignore him. So one day he does any research on these pills his parents give him and learns that all his problems could be known side effects. When he stops taking them, Gar changes in ways more than one. I really had a good time with Gar, he is likable, I get where he is coming from, and I am interested in where he is going. I like that the stories of the other novels are starting to intertwine now and I want to know what is really going on. I look forward to the next one. 

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

 

The Woman Who Stole Vermeer: The True Story of Rose Dugdale and the Russborough House Art Heist

Today’s Nonfiction post is The Woman Who Stole Vermeer: The True Story of Rose Dugdale and the Russborough House Art Heist by Anthony M. Amore. It is 272 pages long and is published by Pegasus Crime. The cover is a picture of the stolen Vermeer and Dugdale. The intended reader is someone who likes true crime, art history, and memoirs. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The extraordinary life and crimes of heiress-turned-revolutionary Rose Dugdale, who in 1974 became the only woman to pull off a major art heist.
In the world of crime, there exists an unusual commonality between those who steal art and those who repeatedly kill: they are almost exclusively male. But, as with all things, there is always an outlier—someone who bucks the trend, defying the reliable profiles and leaving investigators and researchers scratching their heads. In the history of major art heists, that outlier is Rose Dugdale.
Dugdale’s life is singularly notorious. Born into extreme wealth, she abandoned her life as an Oxford-trained PhD and heiress to join the cause of Irish Republicanism. While on the surface she appears to be the British version of Patricia Hearst, she is anything but.
Dugdale ran head-first towards the action, spearheading the first aerial terrorist attack in British history and pulling off the biggest art theft of her time. In 1974, she led a gang into the opulent Russborough House in Ireland and made off with millions in prized paintings, including works by Goya, Gainsborough, and Rubens, as well as Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid by the mysterious master Johannes Vermeer. Dugdale thus became—to this day—the only woman to pull off a major art heist. And as Anthony Amore explores in The Woman Who Stole Vermeer, it’s likely that this was not her only such heist.
The Woman Who Stole Vermeer is Rose Dugdale’s story, from her idyllic upbringing in Devonshire and her presentation to Elizabeth II as a debutante to her university years and her eventual radical lifestyle. Her life of crime and activism is at turns unbelievable and awe-inspiring, and sure to engross readers. 

 

Review- A great memoir of the only woman who planned and pulled off a major art heist. Amore is a good writer and researcher, he does more in this book than just telling the reader about Dugdale or the heist. He breaks out the world that Dugdale grew up in, he explains the political climate that was around her as a child and young adult, and how all these things influenced her. Amore takes the reader from Dugdale’s childhood on a farm in the British countryside to after her heist and jail time. Along the way we learn about Vermeer, the IRA, and the general political scene of post World War 2 Britain. Dugdale is an interesting figure, if difficult to understand and she defies the world by refusing to get into a particular box. I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it. 

 

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. 

 

Perfect World, Vol. 2

Today’s post is on Perfect World, Vol. 2 by Rie Aruga. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has the two main characters on it, Tsugumi and Itsuki. As it is the second volume in the series, you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The intended reader is someone who is interested in complicated emotional love stories. The story is told from third person close of Tsugumi with Itsuki for added plot. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A ROCKY ROAD

After reuniting at a work party, Tsugumi begins dating her high school classmate and first crush, Itsuki, who has since sustained a spinal cord injury and now uses a wheelchair. While at first reluctant to let someone into his heart, Itsuki begins to open up to her. Tsugumi realizes that there's still so much to Itsuki that she has yet to learn, but the deeper their love grows, the tougher the realities they face become. Pitted against Tsugumi's disapproving parents, as well as Nagasawa, Itsuki's caregiver and admirer, and Koreda, Tsugumi's old classmate who wants to be something more, Tsugumi soon finds herself struggling in a relationship that the whole world seems to be against...

Review- Tsugumi and Itsuki have a hard road ahead of them. They have people on both sides telling them to break up for their own personal reasons, like her parents because they want her to have children and people who want  them for themselves. But they are trying to be honest with each other and care for each other. Of course there will be drama like Tsugumi pushing herself too hard and making herself ill and Itsuki blaming himself for not being able to help her. But in general I like where this manga is going and how honest it is about having a relationship when you have disabilities. I look forward to reading more. 

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.

Heaven's Spite

Today’s post is on Heaven's Spite by Lilith Saintcrow. It is 320 pages long and is published by Orbit Books. It is the fifth in the Jill Kismet series and you need to have read the first four volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes dark urban fantasy. There is foul language, no sex, and lots of violence. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Jill. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the back of the book- When a new hellbreed comes calling, playing nice isn't an option. Jill Kismet has no choice but to seek treacherous allies -- Perry, the devil she knows, and Melisande Belisa, the cunning Sorrows temptress whose true loyalties are unknown.

Kismet knows Perry and Belisa are likely playing for the same thing -- her soul. It's just too bad, because she expects to beat them at their own game. Except their game is vengeance.

Nobody plays vengeance like Kismet. But if the revenge she seeks damns her, her enemies might get her soul after all. . .

Review- A fantastic novel in a great urban fantasy series. Jill has some big trouble in this volume with Belisa and the Sorrow is powerless. Jill has to fight herself to not kill the helpless Sorrow and she has to discover what Perry is really going for now. This volume is non-stop action from one scene to the next with Jill mostly chasing her own tail but it was a good volume and the ending was just incredible. While I did guess what Jill was going to do to stop Perry but reading was still shocking. The writing, per usual, is just wonderful with Jill continuing being the center of the story and pulling the reader along with her. Jill is not an easy character but I really like spending time with her and seeing how she saves herself and her city. I am looking forward to seeing how Saintcrow is going to finish this series out. 

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

A Place for Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order

Today’s nonfiction post is on A Place for Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order by Judith Flanders. It is 352 pages long and is published by Basic Books. The cover is the alphabet done in an illuminated style. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes history and language arts. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A Place for Everything is the first-ever history of alphabetization, from the Library of Alexandria to Wikipedia. The story of alphabetical order has been shaped by some of history's most compelling characters, such as industrious and enthusiastic early adopter Samuel Pepys and dedicated alphabet champion Denis Diderot. But though even George Washington was a proponent, many others stuck to older forms of classification -- Yale listed its students by their family's social status until 1886. And yet, while the order of the alphabet now rules -- libraries, phone books, reference books, even the order of entry for the teams at the Olympic Games -- it has remained curiously invisible.
With abundant inquisitiveness and wry humor, historian Judith Flanders traces the triumph of alphabetical order and offers a compendium of Western knowledge, from A to Z. 

Review- An in depth and long reaching look into not just the use of alphabetical order but of many different things that we take for granted now. Flanders is a good historian, a good writer, and she can make big topics into something that will interest anyone and this book is no different. Flanders starts at the earliest written works and then moves into the present day. She discusses original ways that information was sorted by hierarchy from god all the way down to minerals. She gives the reasons for why alphabetical order was not the natural thing that we think it to be now but she shows how it became that natural order to us in the modern day. I have read other works from Flanders so I went into this book with high expectations and she wrote to them. I would recommend this book if you like the idea of the topic. 

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.

Sweat and Soap, Vol. 3

Today’s post is on Sweat and Soap, Vol. 3 by Kintetsu Yamada. It is 208 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has the two main characters, Asako and Kotaro. As it is the third in the series, you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. There is no foul language, mild sex and sexuality, and no violence in this volume. The intended reader is someone who likes sweet, adult love stories with two dorky but sweet characters. The story is told from mostly the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- DROPPING A BATH BOMB

The office romance between the quiet and sweet accountant Asako, who's spent her life ashamed of how much she sweats, and rising star of the bath and toiletry world Kotaro got off to a fast and steamy start! Kotaro's status at the company has made her wary of revealing their relationship to their colleagues at Liliadrop, and she's stumbled into the discovery that Kotaro has been mentoring an attractive, young product developer named Korisu. He doesn't seem to have feelings for her, but might she be harboring a secret crush? Awkwardness explodes into anxiety when Kotaro tells her he's scheduled to take a four-day business trip with Korisu--just the two of them! Can Asako's budding relationship survive, and what's Korisu planning to do over three nights with her supposedly-single boss?

Review- Lots of good things happen in this volume: Asako and Kotaro decide to be public with this relationship, dealing with crushes from other people, and talking about things honestly. To be fair in this series, Asako and Kotaro do a lot of talking and being honest about what they want and their expectations, which is a good thing. But it is nice for them to be open about being together. There is plenty of laughs in this volume too with Asako and Kotaro going on vacation together and just being their dorky, sweet selves. This is a great manga and I love the characters. More! 

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. 

Raven

Today’s post is on Raven by Kami Garcia (Goodreads Author) and  Gabriel Picolo (Illustrator). The cover has raven in profile on it. It is the first in the Teen Titans series. It is 192 pages long and is published by DC Ink. The intended reader is someone who likes DC superheroes. There is mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this graphic novel. The story is told from third person close of Raven. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the back of the book- When a tragic accident takes the life of 17-year-old Raven Roth's foster mom--and Raven's memory--she moves to New Orleans to recover and finish her senior year of high school.

Starting over isn't easy. Raven remembers everyday stuff like how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can't remember her favorite song or who she was before the accident. And when impossible things start happening, Raven begins to think it might even be better not to know who she was before.

But as she grows closer to her new friends, her foster sister, Max, and Tommy Torres, a guy who accepts her for who she is now, Raven has to decide if she's ready to face what's buried in the past...and the darkness building inside her.

Review- A fast paced and interesting retelling of Raven’s origins. The story starts with a car accident and Raven is the only survivor but she doesn’t remember anything from her past. So she moves to New Orleans to live with her mother’s sister and her cousin. Raven is troubled by dreams and hearing voices but her cousin helps her understand that she can hear other people’s thoughts and how to control that. There is a little love story and a revelation of the big bad at the end. Of course there is more going on than just Raven and this is the start of the Teen Titan series, so we see some players that will come back in later volumes. I liked this volume and I look forward to reading more from this imprint. 

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