Harrow County: Omnibus Volume 1

Today's graphic novel is on Harrow County: Omnibus Volume 1 by Cullen Bunn et al. The cover has a hand reaching out of a box with glowing eyes behind it. It is 408 pages long and is published by Dark Horse. The intended reader is someone who likes horror comics. There is very mild foul language, no sex, and some violence. The story is told from third person close following Emmy. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The first half of the highly acclaimed, Eisner-nominated horror fantasy tale, collected in a value-priced omnibus.
Emmy always knew that the woods surrounding her home crawled with ghosts and monsters. But on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she learns that she is connected to these creatures--and to the land itself--in a way she never imagined.
Collects issues 1-16 of Harrow County.

Review- A wonderful and interesting horror comic with a great main character in Emmy. Emmy lives with her father on a farm in rural Harrow County. But Harrow County has blood in its soil from the killing a powerful witch, who wanted to become a god. When she died, the witch cursed Harrow County and promised to return. When Emmy starts healing the animals on the farm, her father knows that she is the witch returned. Emmy has to fight for life and to protect Harrow County from the things that the witch did before she died. Emmy is a great main character, she is clever, curious, and level headed in the face of the terrors in Harrow County. The side characters have their own stories that give them depth and add more flavor to Harrow County. I look forward to reading the second omnibus and following Emmy to her destiny. 

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

A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them

Today's nonfiction post is on A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan. It is 432 pages long and is published by Viking. The cover is a picture of downtown Irving, Indiana, c. 1909. The intended reader is someone who likes history, true crime, and where the two meet. There is foul language, sexuality and rape, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A historical thriller by the Pulitzer and National Book Award-winning author that tells the riveting story of the Klan's rise to power in the 1920s, the cunning con man who drove that rise, and the woman who stopped them.
The Roaring Twenties--the Jazz Age--has been characterized as a time of Gatsby frivolity. But it was also the height of the uniquely American hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. Their domain was not the old Confederacy, but the Heartland and the West. They hated Blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants in equal measure, and took radical steps to keep these people from the American promise. And the man who set in motion their takeover of great swaths of America was a charismatic charlatan named D.C. Stephenson.
Stephenson was a magnetic presence whose life story changed with every telling. Within two years of his arrival in Indiana, he’d become the Grand Dragon of the state and the architect of the strategy that brought the group out of the shadows – their message endorsed from the pulpits of local churches, spread at family picnics and town celebrations. Judges, prosecutors, ministers, governors and senators across the country all proudly proclaimed their membership. But at the peak of his influence, it was a seemingly powerless woman – Madge Oberholtzer – who would reveal his secret cruelties, and whose deathbed testimony finally brought the Klan to their knees.
A FEVER IN THE HEARTLAND marries a propulsive drama to a powerful and page-turning reckoning with one of the darkest threads in American history.

Review- A fascinating read about a crime and history that I knew nothing about. This is really about the spread of the KKK in Indiana and the conman who spearheaded it. Stephenson, not his real name, came into Indiana in the 1920's and found himself a new grift, selling the ideas of the Klan to the Hoosier state. Business, sadly, was good. So Stephenson got a lot of power in the highest of places, the local and state government. So much so that he said, he was the law in Indiana. So when he kidnapped, assaults', then leads to the death of a local young woman, he believes that he can get away with it. I really enjoyed this book, the writing is excellent, the story is riveting, and intense. Egan does done great research into this story and all the people who were involved in it and has great notes in the back of the book. If you are a true crime reader or someone who likes historical books, then you should 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.

Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 5

Today's manga post is on Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 5 by Gyeoeul Gwon and SUOL (Artist). It is 272 pages long and published by Ize Press. The cover has Penelope and Derrick on it. As it is the fifth in the series, you need to have read the first four volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes dark stories with intense characters and incredible art. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the manga- Penelope and Callisto safely escaped the assassins, but Callisto is left in mortal danger and Penelope...is standing trial for murder?! Accused of murdering seven nobles during the Hunt, she faces a court proceeding that’s in actuality nothing more than an elaborate sham to frame her. With false testimonies filling the courtroom and Callisto unable to take the stand, will Penelope make it out alive...?

Review- Penelope has been arrested for attempting to murder seven nobles and no one is listening to her, especially not her family. With Callisto unconscious, she has to prove her innocence all alone. But the game is working with her, to help save her neck and uncover the true villains. Penelope has reached the end of her rope with everyone around her. She only wants to end the game and go home but with every turn of the plot, she is getting in deeper. Penelope and Callisto continue have good discussions and he promises to never kill her. With only a month left before her coming of age event, Penelope is starting to feel the pressure. 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 manga with my own money. 

The Memory Eater

Today's fiction post is on The Memory Eater by Rebecca Mahoney. It is 336 pages long and is published by Razorbill. The cover is a girl standing in the center is a ghostly being all around her with a face and hands. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes young adult fiction, stories about dealing with trauma, and found family. The story is told from first person perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- For generations, a monster called the Memory Eater has lived in the caves of Whistler Beach, Maine, surviving off the unhappy memories of those who want to forget. And for generations, the Harlows have been in charge of keeping her locked up—and keeping her fed.
After her grandmother dies, seventeen-year-old Alana Harlow inherits the family business. But there’s something Alana doesn’t know: the strange gaps in her memory aren’t from an accident. Her memories have been taken— eaten. And with them, she’s lost the knowledge of how to keep the monster contained.
Now the Memory Eater is loose. Alana’s mistake could cost Whistler Beach everything—unless she can figure out how to retrieve her own memories and recapture the monster. But as Alana delves deeper into her family’s magic and the history of her town, she discovers a shocking secret at the center of the Harlow family business and learns that tampering with memories never comes without a price.

Review- A moving story about how we deal with grief, trauma, and the other hard things in life. The past year hasn't been kind to Alana, her grandmother died, she broke up with her girlfriend, and no one really trusts to do her job. Then the memory eater gets out and now she has to save the town before the memory eater eats them all. A moving tale about memory, family trauma, and learning to live with hard memories. Alana is a good main character, she is trying so hard to be what her town says she should be. But she doesn't know what she really wants and more or who she is and that's before the memory eater takes some of her memories. The writing is solid, the characters are good, and the plot is moving. I would recommend this novel.

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. 

Eating the Dinosaur

Today nonfiction post is on Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman. It is 245 pages long and is published by Scribner. The cover has a dinosaur on it with different parts pointed at like brisket or short rib. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes essays about pop culture and recent history. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Chuck Klosterman has chronicled rock music, film, and sports for almost fifteen years. He's covered extreme metal, extreme nostalgia, disposable art, disposable heroes, life on the road, life through the television, urban uncertainty and small-town weirdness. Through a variety of mediums and with a multitude of motives, he's written about everything he can think of (and a lot that he's forgotten). The world keeps accelerating, but the pop ideas keep coming.
In Eating the Dinosaur, Klosterman is more entertaining and incisive than ever. Whether he's dissecting the boredom of voyeurism, the reason why music fans inevitably hate their favorite band's latest album, or why we love watching can't-miss superstars fail spectacularly, Klosterman remains obsessed with the relationship between expectation, reality, and living history. It's amateur anthropology for the present tense, and sometimes it's incredibly funny.

Review- Klosterman's essays in this collection are quite varied from sports to music. Within one essay, he will cover a topic, like fans hating their favorites newest album and why the best basketball player is a total unknown. Of course, the real draw the book is Klosterman's writing itself. He is such a good writer that, he makes every topic interesting. The pieces of interviews, at the beginning of each chapter, help set the tone of the chapter and give some insight into what Klosterman is going for within the chapter. Klosterman is my personal favorite essayist at this time and I would recommend him and any of his books. 

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 Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 01

Today's manga post is on Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 01 by Yuu Watase. It is 189 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has two of the main characters on it, Takiko and Limdo. This is a prequel to the first Fushigi Yûgi series, but you do not have to have read it to understand the story. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and some violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Takiko. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- When schoolgirl Takiko Okuda attempts to destroy her father's translation of "The Universe of the Four Gods," she is instead literally sucked into the story, becoming the Priestess of Genbu in an epic journey to find the seven Celestial Warriors!
In her first encounter, she meets the mysterious outlaw Limdo, a Celestial Warrior with a tattoo of the Chinese character for "woman" on his chest. Limdo can not only summon the wind as one of his special powers, but he can also transform into a woman!
Takiko meets up with the bowman, Chamka, who is hunting Limbdo. It seems Chamka is one of the seven Celestial Warriors as well...

Review- A great start to the prequel of a classic series. Takiko has been caring for her mother as they wait for her father to return from wherever he wondered off to. When he returns, he is still obsessed with a book called "The Universe of the Four Gods," and is not there when Takiko's mother dies. In her anger, Takiko tries to destroy the book. That is when she is taken into the world of the Four Gods. The story is strong with Takiko having a strong will and she makes choices in her life. The two warriors she has met are interesting and they have strong powers. The bad guys know that she is here and they are ready for her. I am looking forward to seeing what is going to happen next. 

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

The Last Book You'll Ever Read: The Complete Series

Today's fiction post is on The Last Book You'll Ever Read: The Complete Series by Cullen Bunn et al. It is 192 pages long and is published by Vault Comics. The cover has the main character bursting out of a book with monster hands reaching for her. The intended reader is someone who likes horror and graphic novels. There is foul language, sex, and violence in this graphic novel. The story is told from third person close of two of the characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Read this book at your own peril.
Olivia Kade wrote the book that ended the world. Now she needs someone who won't read it.
Civilization is a lie. Hidden deep in our genes is the truth. And it is slowly clawing its way to the surface. Olivia Kade knows the truth, and she has become the prophet of the coming collapse. Her book, SATYR, is an international bestseller, and it is being blamed for acts of senseless violence and bloodshed all over the world. Olivia's own life is in danger from those who have read her work. Determined to conduct a book tour, she hires security professional Connor Wilson to act as her bodyguard. She only has one requirement: he cannot read her work.

Review- An interesting graphic novel about a woman who wrote a book that could end civilization. Olivia wrote, what she thought was, a book about human nature and philosophy. But as more and more people read her book something is happening to them. The reader either think she is a holy prophet or a doomsayer and must be killed. Her bodyguard hasn't read the book and is mystified by the extreme reactions. Now all he has to do is get Olivia to the last stop on her book tour. This was a fun read with lots of questions about the nature of the book that Olivia wrote or if she wrote it all. The art is very good, the story is compelling, and the ending is open for more to be written in this world. I would like to see more in this world and how others are surviving in it. I would recommend this graphic novel. 

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.

Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction

Today's nonfiction post is on Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction by Lynne Olson. It is 448 pages long and is published by Random House. The cover is a picture of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt on a dig. The intended reader is someone who is interested in women's history, world history, and Egyptology. There is mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- In the 1960s, the world’s attention was focused on a nail-biting race against the international campaign to save a dozen ancient Egyptian temples from drowning in the floodwaters of the gigantic new Aswan High Dam. But the coverage of this unprecedented rescue effort completely overlooked the daring French archaeologist who made it all happen. Without the intervention of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, the temples—including the Temple of Dendur, now at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art—would currently be at the bottom of a vast reservoir. It was an unimaginably complex project that required the fragile sandstone temples to be dismantled and rebuilt on higher ground.
Willful and determined, Desroches-Noblecourt refused to be cowed by anyone or anything. As a member of the French Resistance in World War II she survived imprisonment by the Nazis; in her fight to save the temples she defied two of the most daunting leaders of the postwar world, Egypt’s President Abdel Nasser and France’s President Charles de Gaulle. As she told one reporter, “You don’t get anywhere without a fight, you know.”
Desroches-Noblecourt also received help from a surprising source. Jacqueline Kennedy, America’s new First Lady, persuaded her husband to help fund the rescue effort. After a century and a half of Western plunder of Egypt’s ancient monuments, Desroches-Noblecourt helped instead to preserve a crucial part of that cultural heritage.

Review- A great read about the first French woman Egyptology, Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt. She loved Egypt from childhood and her parents enjoyed her passion. She fought the establishments in intellectual French to make a place for herself and other women. This book follows her whole life and career. She also fought for the temples of ancient Egypt that were forgotten and uncared for. Desroches-Noblecourt saw all the beauty and history as more than just Egypt's, it belonged to the whole world as world history. So she did everything she could to make others, especially those in power, see the beauty too. With effort, she did and we still have many temples that would have been lost to the Nile without her. I recommend this book about a fascinating woman, Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt. 

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

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Vol. 2

Today's manga post is on Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Vol. 2 by Yū Tomofuji. It is 192 pages long and is published by Yen Press. The cover has Sariphi, Cy, and Clops on it. 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 shojo manga, love stories, and court intrigue. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Sariphi. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- When an array of rival princesses descends upon the palace, Sariphi gains an unlikely ally in the princess of the reptile clan. A hopeless romantic, Princess Amit is determined to push her erstwhile sacrificial friend into the king's arms! But even with Amit cheering her on, will Sariphi be able to carry out the absurd set of tasks Chancellor Anubis concocts to prove she is worthy of being queen...?

Review- Sariphi has to actively choose if she wants to be queen in this volume. All the princesses have come to try and marry Leo. The cat princess even tries to kill Sariphi but Anubis is the real threat to her. He wants to out of the castle and for Leo to choose the right bride, not a human one. Also Sariphi gains a friend in the lizard princess, who becomes her personal attendant. Sariphi has many challenges in this volume but her faith in herself and in Leo is strong. There is world building in this volume with the reader seeing magic and the cost of doing magic. I am enjoying this series and I look forwarding to seeing Sariphi succeed. 

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.

Hide

Today's post is on Hide by Kiersten White. It is 240 pages long and is published by Del Rey. The cover is yellow with a Ferris wheel on floating ground in the center. The intended reader is someone who likes horror novels. There is foul language, no sex and mild violence in this novel. The story is from third person close of the different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The challenge: spend a week hiding in an abandoned amusement park and don't get caught.
The prize: enough money to change everything.
Even though everyone is desperate to win--to seize their dream futures or escape their haunting pasts--Mack feels sure that she can beat her competitors. All she has to do is hide, and she's an expert at that.
It's the reason she's alive, and her family isn't.
But as the people around her begin disappearing one by one, Mack realizes this competition is more sinister than even she imagined, and that together might be the only way to survive.
Fourteen competitors. Seven days. Everywhere to hide, but nowhere to run.
Come out, come out, wherever you are.

Review- A very intense and interesting horror novel. Mack has been hiding all her life, from her past and her future. But when she is offered a chance in this game, she thinks why not. But of course nothing is like it seems. The other people are odd, like her and there is something wrong with the maze. The mystery about the maze was not too hard to figure out but the plot was still enjoyable. I liked the characters and I was sadden by their deaths but this is a horror novel. I think that White did a good job in this novel, she took a good concept, added interesting characters, and made a good novel. I would enjoy reading another novel from her. 

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

Ghosts of the Orphanage: A Story of Mysterious Deaths, a Conspiracy of Silence, and a Search for Justice

Today's nonfiction post is on Ghosts of the Orphanage: A Story of Mysterious Deaths, a Conspiracy of Silence, and a Search for Justice by Christine Kenneally. It is was 384 pages long and published by Public Affairs. The cover is a black and white picture with a stairway in the back. The intended reader is someone who is interested in the history of twentieth-century orphanages and the children who survived them. There is foul language, discussion of sexual violence, and violence in the form of child abuse in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The shocking secret history of twentieth-century orphanages—which for decades hid violence, abuse, and deaths within their walls For much of the twentieth century, a series of terrible events—abuse, both physical and psychological, and even deaths—took places inside orphanages. The survivors have been trying to tell their astonishing stories for a long time, but disbelief, secrecy, and trauma have kept them from breaking through. For ten years, Christine Kenneally has been on a quest to uncover the harrowing truth.   Centering her story on St. Joseph’s, a Catholic orphanage in Vermont, Kenneally has written a stunning account of a series of crimes and abuses. But her work is not confined to one place. Following clues that take her into the darkened corners of several institutions across the globe, she finds a trail of terrifying stories and a courageous group of survivors who are seeking justice. Ghosts of the Orphanage is an incredible true crime story and a reckoning with a past that has stayed buried for too long, with tragic consequences.  

Review- This is a tough read but also very worth it to give the survivors their voices. Kenneally started researching the topic of child abuse in Catholic orphanages around 2016. At first she was just looking in her native Australia but she dug deeper into the story she realized that this was more than just the odd priest or nun, it was systemic. The stories the survivors told were stomach turning and gave the survivors life long PTSD. Keanneally investigates the stories and gives the survivors room to tell the stories themselves. This book is a testament, like the Spotlight stories that broke open the sexual abuse of priests, to the will of the survivors . I would recommend this book out of respect to them.

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. 

Kiss Him, Not Me!, Vol. 4

Today's manga post is on Kiss Him, Not Me!, Vol. 4 by Junko. It is 168 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Kae, Nanashima and Shinomiya on it. As it is the fourth in the series, you need to have read the first three volumes to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo and high school rom-coms. The story is told from third person close of mostly Kae. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Hi again! It's me, Kae! After sweating it out with the boys, I've slimmed down again, but the fujoshi in me will never fade away!
After everything that happened in the last volume, Igarashi has now fallen in love with the true me. je's decided to continue his pursuit, but this time, he means business!
Igarashi's new resolve also spurs a change in Nanashima, and he doubles his efforts to win me over, it's great that they're both so fired up, but what's firing me up the thought of them possibly getting hot and heavy with each other...

Review- This volume is more about the boys and their inter-relationships and Kae is in the background having her fujoshi fantasies. But Kae is also learning to be real friends to the boys and getting to understand them. There is a little moment with some other boys are not good are hearing the word 'no' and Kae has to be rescued by her friends. The manga is really sinking into the silly theme and exploring the characters that live in this world and even in Kae's imagination. I would like to see some growth from Kae, maybe start thinking about the boys as real people, not just there for to her have fantasies about. 

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.

Alice Ever After

Today's post is on Alice Ever After by Dan Panosian, Giorgio Spalletta (Illustrator) and Cyril Glerum (Illustrator). It is 128 pages long and is published by BOOM! Studios. The cover has Alice trapped in a glass pill jar, crying, trying to get out. The intended reader is someone who is interested in what happened to Alice after she grew up. There is mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this graphic novel. The story follows Alice and her sister Edith. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Alice first visited Wonderland as a child. Now an adult, it’s her only escape from her cold, strange reality. But in order to return, Alice needs something stronger than mushrooms, and is forced to resort to crime to feed her growing addiction… When this fateful decision takes her a step too far down a terrible path, Alice finds herself committed to the dreaded asylum. What horrors await her in the bowels of this twisted place? And will Alice ultimately choose to escape from her uncaring family and childhood trauma in Wonderland, or find the courage to face her demons in the real world?

Review- A dark for Alice and a dark reason for her going to Wonderland. When Alice was a child, she was given a drug to help her sleep and she dreamed of Wonderland. But She was given too much and is now addicted and need the drug. This has some very dark moments when Alice is in the asylum with the guards and the madam. The art is good, bright in Wonderland and more muted tones in the real world. If you are a big Alice in Wonderland fan, then you should enjoy this graphic. If you like darker takes on classic stories, you should like this graphic. But if you are neither, then you may not care for this one. 

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

Seventy Times Seven: A True Story of Murder and Mercy

Today's nonfiction post is on Seventy Times Seven: A True Story of Murder and Mercy by Alex Mar. It is 384 pages long and is published by Penguin Press. The cover is blue with title and author in bold black print and pictures of both the murderer and the victim. The intended reader is someone who is interested in true crime and what justice really is. There is mild foul language, no sex, and descriptions of violence. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the dust jacket- A masterful, revelatory work of literary non-fiction about a teenage girl's shocking crime--and its extraordinary aftermath
On a spring afternoon in 1985 in Gary, Indiana, a fifteen-year-old girl kills an elderly woman in a violent home invasion. In a city with a history of racial tensions and white flight, the girl, Paula Cooper, is Black, and her victim, Ruth Pelke, is white and a beloved Bible teacher.
When Paula is sentenced to death, no one decries the impending execution of a tenth grader. But the tide begins to shift when the victim's grandson Bill forgives the girl, against the wishes of his family, and campaigns to spare her life. This tragedy in a midwestern steel town soon reverberates across the United States and around the world--reaching as far away as the Vatican--as newspapers cover the story on their front pages and millions sign petitions in support of Paula.
As Paula waits on death row, her fate sparks a debate that not only animates legal circles but raises vital questions about the value of human life: What are we demanding when we call for justice? Is forgiveness an act of desperation or of profound bravery? As Bill and Paula's friendship deepens, and as Bill discovers others who have chosen to forgive after terrible violence, their story asks us to consider what radical acts of empathy we might be capable of.
In Seventy Times Seven, Alex Mar weaves an unforgettable narrative of an act of violence and its aftermath. This is a story about the will to live--to survive, to grow, to change--and about what we are willing to accept as justice. Tirelessly researched and told with intimacy and precision, this book brings a haunting chapter in the history of our criminal justice system to astonishing life.

Review- A very moving true crime book that examines the crime, the criminal, and what is real justice. The murder of Ruth Pelke by the hands of a group of teenage girls was very shocking to the community and her family. Her grandson started as angry as the rest of the his family but hearing Paula's grandfather cry out for her, something changed in him. He began to question what his grandmother would have wanted and what was justice when someone is 15. This book is very well written and the questions about justice, faith, and personal choice it raises are engaging. I was deeply moved by Bill, the grandson, and Paula, the murderer, as they tried to find peace and friendship with each other. I would 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.

Takane & Hana, Vol. 7

Today's manga post is on Takane & Hana, Vol. 7 by Yuki Shiwasu. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the seventh volume in the series, you need to have read the first six to understand the story. The cover Hana and Takane looking very dramatic on the cover. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes over the top characters and silly plotlines. The story is told from third person close mostly following Hana. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Stripped of his wealth and now penniless, Takane has to learn to cope with being poor. He refuses any help from Hana, but she isn’t about to let him brush her off! Takane is as difficult as ever, but Hana sticks by him. Will she finally admit she has feelings for him?

Review- Takane is still learning how to live as as a normal person but he is getting back to his normal silly self. Hana is having to deal with the fact that she has grown to like Takane for himself. That unsettles her and that adds to the humor in this volume. But there is good character growth in this volume from both Hana and Takane, so that was enjoyable. But the plot is moving slowing in comparison to the character growth. I hope that we more plot in the next volume to add to the growth the characters have done in this one. More silliness to come!

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get mothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Girl Taking over: A Lois Lane Story

Today's review is on Girl Taking over: A Lois Lane Story by Sarah Kuhn and Arielle Jovellanos (Illustrator). It is 185 pages long and is published by DC Comics. The cover is green with Lois pushing the title from the right. The intended reader is someone who likes Lois Lane and new origin stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this graphic novel. The story closely follows Lois. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Can Lois Lane scrap her entire life plan for an unpredictable summer of ride-or-die friendships, swoony romance, and writing her truth? Ambitious small-town girl Lois Lane tackles a summer in National City with gusto, but a cavalcade of setbacks-including an annoying frenemy roommate, a beyond-tedious internship at a suddenly corporatized website, and a boss who demotes her to coffee-fetching minion-threatens to derail her extremely detailed life plan. And, you know, her entire future! When Lois uncovers a potentially explosive scandal, she must stand up and speak out for the future she deserves without destroying everything she’s worked so hard to create. From beloved author Sarah Kuhn (Shadow of the Batgirl, Heroine Complex), with lively art by Arielle Jovellanos, comes a charming YA story about the strength it takes to embrace the messiness of life.

Review- A fun new origin story for Lois Lane. Lois has her whole life planned out, including future Pulitzers. But when local paper she was interning for is bought out, everything changes. She has to learn to make herself be heard and try to help others speak up too. Kuhn nails Lois, a gutsy, proud leader who takes no crap from anyone. The art is fun and joyful, tapping into the fun of summer and friends and big dreams. The road blocks to Lois' success are not a bad boss but herself and she overcomes them. I would recommend this graphic novel, especially if you are a Lois Lane fan, like me. 

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.

Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres

Today's nonfiction post is on Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres by Kelefa Sanneh. It is 496 pages long and is published by Penguin Press. The cover is yellow with the title in red. The intended reader is someone who is interested in the history of modern music. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- An epic achievement and a huge delight, the entire history of popular music over the past fifty years refracted through the big genres that have defined and dominated it: rock, R&B, country, punk, hip-hop, dance music, and pop
Kelefa Sanneh, one of the essential voices of our time on music and culture, has made a deep study of how popular music unites and divides us, charting the way genres become communities. In Major Labels, Sanneh distills a career's worth of knowledge about music and musicians into a brilliant and omnivorous reckoning with popular music--as an art form (actually, a bunch of art forms), as a cultural and economic force, and as a tool that we use to build our identities. He explains the history of slow jams, the genius of Shania Twain, and why rappers are always getting in trouble.
Sanneh shows how these genres have been defined by the tension between mainstream and outsider, between authenticity and phoniness, between good and bad, right and wrong. Throughout, race is a powerful touchstone: just as there have always been Black audiences and white audiences, with more or less overlap depending on the moment, there has been Black music and white music, constantly mixing and separating. Sanneh debunks cherished myths, reappraises beloved heroes, and upends familiar ideas of musical greatness, arguing that sometimes, the best popular music isn't transcendent. Songs express our grudges as well as our hopes, and they are motivated by greed as well as idealism; music is a powerful tool for human connection, but also for human antagonism. This is a book about the music everyone loves, the music everyone hates, and the decades-long argument over which is which. The opposite of a modest proposal, Major Labels pays in full.

Review- A wonderful read about music, its history and its fans. Sanneh is a wonderful, engaging writer that loves his topic and is knowledgeable about it. He starts with the birth of his love of music then moves into the meat of the book. He breaks out trends, fads, and the difference between them. As the book moves forward, he doesn't forget about the music that was discuss earlier and links it into the current chapter topic. That gives the reader a very good sense of growth in music and in the world that the music was playing in. The reader truly feels that they are moving through time as they go through the book and learning about the past in a new way, through the music that was popular or hated. Sanneh also including himself in this journey, as he writes about what music he was listening too or discovering or writing about as a professional music critic. He gives the reader insight in himself, his thoughts, his life, and how the music affected him. I would love to read more by Sanneh, he was just a delight to read. I 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. 

Skip Beat!, Vol. 30

Today's manga post is on Skip Beat!, Vol. 30  Yoshiki Nakamura. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Kyoko and Ren on it all dressed up. As it is the thirty volume in the series, you need to have read the previous twenty-nine volumes to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The story is third person close following the main characters mostly. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Ren’s new cast mate Taira Murasame used to be a biker, and he sees show biz as just another gang to get to the top of. Normally Ren would have no problem dealing with a punk, but his role as BJ requires him to tap his darkest depths. When Murasame and Ren have to fight on camera, can Ren remember that it’s only acting?!

Review- This volume is mostly about Ren and him dealing with how this role is making him remember his past. But there is also him getting into the role both on set and alone with Kyoko. Kyoko is a little worried about him because she is so in tune with Ren and his feelings. The rest of the volume is the normal over the top humor. Ren getting into a 'real' fight with Murasame, Kyoko being Setsu and causing some mild drama. I am really enjoying this silly arc with both Kyoko and Ren pretending to be this weird, tough siblings. But it is also nice to get some background trauma for Ren when he lived in America. I look forward to seeing what nonsense they are going to get into next. 

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

The Dragon's Promise

Today's post is on The Dragon's Promise by Elizabeth Lim. It is 484 pages long and is published by Knopf Books for Young Readers. The cover has Shiori and Seryu with a black pearl in her arms. As it is the second volume of the duology, you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes re-telling of fairy tales and adventure stories with mild romance. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild action violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of Shiori. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A journey to the kingdom of dragons, a star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world or break it...
Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined.
She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood.
The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love, Takkan. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win.

Review- This book picks up right where the last one left with Shioro and Seryu going to the Dragon Kingdom for help. But the dragons are not pleased with her or that Seryu is helping her. The pearl is wanted by more than just demons and the dragon it belongs to, everyone wants the pearl and the power it holds. So Shiori has to fight to get the pearl back to the right dragon, with only her brothers and Takkan to help her. This book was fine but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one. I think that it was a slower start than I was expecting. The ending was good with all the plot threads tied up. I would read another book by this author. 

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.

Homicide

Today's nonfiction book is on Homicide by Philippe Squarzoni (Adapter/Illustrator), David Simon. It is 320 pages long and is published by First Second. The cover is grey with yellow accents. The intended reader is someone is who interested in classic true crime and likes graphic novels. There is foul language, no sex, and discussion of violence in this graphic novel. The story is from told third person perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Homicide, the celebrated true crime-book from the creator of HBO's The Wire, is re-envisioned in this first volume of a gritty, cinematic graphic novel duology.
In 1988, journalist David Simon was given unprecedented access to the Baltimore Police Department’s homicide unit. Over the next twelve months, he shadowed detectives as they took on a slew of killings in a city where killings were common. Only the most heinous cases stood out–chief amongst them, the rape and murder of eleven-year-old Latonya Wallace.
Originally published in 1991, Simon’s Homicide became the basis for the acclaimed television show Homicide: Life on the Street and inspired HBO’s The Wire. Now, this true-crime classic is reimagined as a gritty two-part graphic novel series.

Review- A great introduction to a classic true crime book. Homicide was a ground breaking book and then a ground breaking television show. I have been a fan of the show for over twenty years but I have never gotten around to reading the original book. So when the graphic novel came out, I knew I had to get my hands on it and it was a great read. The style of the art is very traditional with muted greys, browns, whites, and blacks. So when a more intense color, like red for blood, is on the page, it stands out even more. The narration style is very unique, there is little dialog more back narration, like someone read over your shoulder, talking about what is happening and other information. I liked the style, it made it feel like I was reading the original book. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second volume and I would like to see more nonfiction books get this treatment. 

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

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Vol. 2

 

Today's post is on Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Vol. 2 by Naoko Takeuchi. It is 343 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Sailor Mercury on it. As it is the second volume in the series, you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, magical girl manga, and classic manga. There is no foul language, no sex, and some violence in this manga. The story closely follows the main character, Usagi. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the flaps on the book- The guardians in sailor suits return in this definitive edition of the greatest magical girl manga of all time! Features all-new cover illustrations by creator Naoko Takeuchi, a glittering holographic coating, an extra-large size, premium paper, French flaps, and a newly-revised translation!
Teenager Usagi is not the best athlete, she's never gotten good grades, and, well, she's a bit of a crybaby. But when she meets a talking cat, she begins a journey that will teach her she has a well of great strength just beneath the surface and the heart to inspire and stand up for her friends as Sailor Moon! Experience the Sailor Moon manga as never before in these extra-long editions (about 300 pages each).

Review- So much happens in this volume. We get so much plot and everyone's basic back story from the Silver Millennium, and we met Sailor Venus and the Sailor Scouts defeat the first major bad guy, Queen Beryl. Usagi and Mamoru remember who they were and how they died the first time. The action is very paced with a lot happening as Takeuchi wraps up the first major arc for the series. The ending is someone claiming to the Usagi, who is looking for the Silver Crystal, holds a gun at Usagi and Mamoru. This arc was very interesting with so much going for it, I can understand why Sailor Moon became a classic, just from this first story arc. The art is just beautiful, in this edition there are many full color pieces, that add so much to the series and really shows off Takeuchi's beautiful art style. I am looking forward to reading the next volume and seeing what is going to happen to Usagi next. 

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.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin

Today's post is on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird and Tom Waltz. It is 224 pages long and is published by IDW Publishing. The cover is black with a red moon and a turtle in black with his back to the reader. The intended reader is someone who is a fan of the series but you don't have to read all the previous series to enjoy this. There is mild foul language, no sex, and violence in this graphic novel. The story is told from third person close of the Last Ronin. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Who is the Last Ronin? In a future, battle-ravaged New York City, a lone surviving Turtle embarks on a seemingly hopeless mission seeking justice for the family he lost. From legendary TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, get ready for the final story of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles three decades in the making!
What terrible events destroyed his family and left New York a crumbling, post-apocalyptic nightmare? All will be revealed in this climactic Turtle tale that sees longtime friends becoming enemies and new allies emerging in the most unexpected places. Can the surviving Turtle triumph?
Eastman and Laird are joined by writer Tom Waltz, who penned the first 100 issues of IDW’s ongoing TMNT series, and artists Esau & Isaac Escorza (Heavy Metal) and Ben Bishop (The Far Side of the Moon) with an Introduction by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez!
Collects the complete five-issue miniseries in a new graphic novel, an adventure as fulfilling for longtime Turtles fans as it is accessible for readers just discovering the heroes in a half-shell.

Review- This was an incredible graphic novel and a great ending for the original turtle series. The story is in the future and New York is a mess without it's half-shelled protectors. The story is full of emotion not just from the turtle but from the others around him that are still healing from the events that made the Ronin a Ronin. The biggest emotion to me was the turtle dealing with loneness. They were always together or with April/Casey and in the present he has been alone for years and it has taken a toll on him. But he is committed to ending the war and stopping the last Oroku at last. I would strongly recommend this graphic novel. 

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

Waiting for Spring, Vol. 7

Today's Manga Monday post is on Waiting for Spring, Vol. 7 by Anashin. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Mutsuki and Towa on it. As it is the seventh volume in the series, you need to have read the first six volumes to understand the story. 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, Mutsuki and Towa. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the back of the book- One-On-One
Mitsuki has been working so hard to prepare for the school festival that she passes out from exhaustion. When she wakes up, she finds herself in an unfamiliar bed...
It turns out to be Aya who's come to her rescue, like he always used to. Meanwhile, Towa comes to an important realization on his own- he resolves to confess his feelings to Mitsuki, ad the day of the school festival may be his best chance!

Review- Mutsuki does a lot of growing in this volume. She is reaching out and finding out that she likes being around other people and being involved in school clubs. Towa has been thinking about his feelings, Mutsuki and Aya. So some big things happen in this volume. The plot is more the focus and moving forward. I hope that we get more character development in the next volume with all the plot movement in this one. I want to see how Mutsuki is going to face her own feelings and how she is going handle both boys. I am looking forward to the next volume and seeing what is going 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. 

Star Wars: Thrawn

Today's post is on Star Wars: Thrawn by Jody Houser (Writer), Luke Ross (Illustrator), Paul Renaud (Cover Art). It is 152 pages long and is published by Marvel. The intended reader is someone who enjoys Star Wars and wants more. There is no foul language, no sex, and action violence in this graphic novel. The story is told from third person close mostly of Thrawn. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The fan-favorite Imperial Grand Admiral gets the Marvel Comics treatment!
He's one of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of Star Wars! Now, discover how Grand Admiral Thrawn became one of the most feared military tacticians in a galaxy far, far away. Jody Houser and Luke Ross adapt Timothy Zahn's New York Times best-selling novel about Thrawn's rise through the Imperial ranks!
Meet young Lieutenant Thrawn, who graduated the Imperial Academy with the highest marks possible. He's been assigned his own personal assistant, Ensign Eli Vanto, and is ascending quickly - but that doesn't mean everyone in the Imperial Navy wants him to succeed. And Thrawn isn't the Empire's only rising star - so is Arihnda Pryce. The two rivals' paths will cross, and tensions will run high, when they discover a dark secret within the Empire.

Review- This is a re-telling of the origins of Thrawn, one of the best characters in the extended universe of Star Wars. This starts from the beginning of Thrawn joining the Empire to his ascendancy as Grand Admiral. The reader sees the racism that Thrawn deals with, his genius, and his will to complete his tasks. He is basically Sherlock Holmes in Star Wars and working for the Empire. Thrawn has his reasons for everything he does and we get to see and understand what his aims are. A great introduction to a favorite character and I hope that more is written on Thrawn. 

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

Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 2

Today's Manga Monday post is on Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 2 by Hiromu Arakawa. It is 264 pages long and is published by Viz Media. The cover has Al on it. As it is the second volume in the series, you need to have read the first volume. The intended reader is someone who likes shonen manga, adventure stories, and funny heroes. There is mild foul language, no sex, and some violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Ed and at times other characters for plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. The brothers’ search for the Philosopher’s Stone leads them to a secret alchemical document which contains a gruesome truth.

Review- This volume picks up right where the last volume ended with Ed facing a mystery man, who destroyed his metal arm. But Ed and Al are saved by other state alchemists and the man is revealed to a war survivor named Scar. He kills alchemists and he is hunting in the main city. This volume has a good piece about the past and what happened to Ed and Al after and they discover what a sorcerer's stone really is and how to make one. We get to see more of other state alchemists and why alchemists are disliked in the world. The worldbuilding is starting to get strong and the reader is getting a feel for the place that Ed and Al have. I am excited to read what is going to happened to them next!

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. 

Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hel

Today's nonfiction post is on Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hell by Tom Clavin. It is 386 pages long and is published by St. Matrin's Press. The cover is a illustration of Tombstone and the Earp party. The intended reader is someone who is interested in the real history of the Wild West. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and descriptions of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- On the afternoon of October 26, 1881, nine men clashed in what would be known as the most famous shootout in American frontier history. Thirty bullets were exchanged in thirty seconds, killing three men and wounding three others.
The fight sprang forth from a tense, hot summer. Cattle rustlers had been terrorizing the back country of Mexico and selling the livestock they stole to corrupt ranchers. The Mexican government built forts along the border to try to thwart American outlaws, while Arizona citizens became increasingly agitated. Rustlers, who became known as the cow-boys, began to kill each other as well as innocent citizens. That October, tensions boiled over with Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, and Billy Claiborne confronting the Tombstone marshal, Virgil Earp, and the suddenly deputized Wyatt and Morgan Earp and shotgun-toting Doc Holliday.

Bestselling author Tom Clavin peers behind decades of legend surrounding the story of Tombstone to reveal the true story of the drama and violence that made it famous. Tombstone also digs deep into the vendetta ride that followed the tragic gunfight, when Wyatt and Warren Earp and Holliday went vigilante to track down the likes of Johnny Ringo, Curly Bill Brocius, and other cowboys who had cowardly gunned down his brothers. That "vendetta ride" would make the myth of Wyatt Earp complete and punctuate the struggle for power in the American frontier's last boom town.

Review- Clavin takes the reader from the beginning of Tombstone and the man who found the silver veins. The reader gets a well rounded look of the world that the shoot out happened in. From the cowboys and the ranchers who used them to the law and order side trying to protect people and livestock. Clavin is a good writer, he knows how to add details without overwhelming the reader or boring them. He gives his research and the books his used, so the reader can investigate more, if they wish to. Where there is no evidence for a legend, Clavin will discuss the legend but give the reader the best factual information. If you are curious about the real shoot out at the OK Corral, then you should give this book a read. 

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. 

Yakuza Lover, Vol. 5

Today's post is on Yakuza Lover, Vol. 5 by Nozomi Mino. It is 170 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Yuri and Oya on it, dressed up for a date. As it is the fifth in the series, you need to have read the first four to understand the story. There is some mild foul language, sex and sexuality, and mild violence in this series. The intended reader is someone who likes dark romance, mafia love stories, and strong heroines. The story closely follows Yuri and at times Oya. There Be Spoilers Ahead,

From the back of the book- Choko, a hostess working at a club under the Oya syndicate’s protection, has her sights set on Oya. Determined to have Oya all to herself, the femme fatale arranges for Yuri to be attacked so she can play the hero and use it as an excuse to get closer to Oya. Oya discovers Choko’s plot, but it’s part of the Oya syndicate’s creed to never lay hands on a woman. So how is he going to settle the score with her?

Review- This volume is really about Choko and her obsession with Oya. we do see Yuri as she buys a birthday present for Oya and Oya dealing with Choko but the main focus of the story is Choko and what she will do to get Oya. Of course Choko doesn't understand that Oya is not playing with Yuri, that he is in love with her. So because of that mistake, Choko is going to lose access to Oya forever. I liked this volume following another character for a more in depth look into her motives. Choko was a good side villain, she willing to do just about anything to get who she wants. But the ending was focused back right it should be, which is on Yuri and Oya. 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.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 1 Hiromu Arakawa

Today's post is on Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 1 by Hiromu Arakawa. It is 270 pages long and is published by Viz Media. The cover has Edward Elric on it looking confident. The intended reader is someone who likes mature shonen stories, historical urban fantasy, and intense plots. There is very mild foul language, no sex, and some violence in this series. The story closely follows the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical “auto-mail” limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his and his brother’s bodies… the legendary Philosopher’s Stone!

Review- This is one of the best selling manga of the modern day. This is the story of the Elric brothers as they try to repair their lives after making a horrible mistake as young children. It starts with the brothers traveling to a small village after hearing rumors about miracles. They uncover a priest who is using a whole town and has very grand plans for himself. After this introduction into the world and our main characters, we travel with Ed and Al until the end of the manga where things gets serious. This is a very strong first volume and the edition itself is beautiful with color inserts and color matching end pages. I would highly recommend this series. 

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

Sweat and Soap, Vol. 7

Today's post is on Sweat and Soap, Vol. 7 by Kintetsu Yamada. It is 208 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has the two main characters on it, Asako and Kotaro. As it is the seventh volume in the series, you need to have read the first six volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes mature manga. There is no foul language, mild sexuality, and no violence in this manga. There is story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Scents of Self
After lots of discussion and planning (and so many Post-It notes), Asako and Kotaro move in together, and a new era of their relationship dawns! But will these meticulously-laid plans stand up to the pressures and annoyances of real life? Pressures like... meeting the family? Kotaro's managed to smooth things over with Asako's family so far, but his own relatives haven't had the chance to meet Asako yet. She's excited to see how Kotaro grew into the genius scent designer he is today, but she's also apprehensive. Will she leave the right impression, or will that familiar panic overtake her once again?

Review- We get to meet Kotaro's family and see the tea farm he grew up on. His family loves her but of course Asako has to learn to express herself with new people. But Kotaro's family seems to understand her and they make her welcome. This series does so many things right from character's acting like real adults so showing Asako dealing with her anxieties. Her feelings are considered valid and matter to the people in her life. The relationship is shown to be quite realistic, with little fights and misunderstandings, but most importantly Asako and Kotaro talk it out and they find a middle ground that works for both of them. I recommend this series strongly.  

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

Eat the Rich

Today's  post is on Eat the Rich by Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak (Illustrator). It is 128 pages long and is published by BOOM! Studios. The cover is green with the title in meat with an eye on top and a finger in the middle. The intended reader is someone who likes horror comics. There is foul language, no sex, and violence in this comic. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Joey. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- WELCOME TO CRESTFALL BLUFFS!
With law school and her whole life ahead of her, Joey plans to spend the summer with her boyfriend Astor at his seemingly perfect family home. But beneath all the affluent perfection lies a dark, deadly rot… something all the locals live in quiet fear of.
As summer lingers, Joey uncovers the macabre history of Crestfall Bluffs, and the ruthlessness and secrecy lying in wait behind the idyllic lives of the one percent. Who can Joey save? Who wants to be saved? And can she even survive to tell the tale?

Review- This is very interesting and fun horror comic series. This is the full run and a complete story, so that makes me like it more. Joey has been dating a guy from a very wealthy family and she is going to spend the summer with him and meet them. Of course there are some things that her boyfriend didn't warn her about, like eating the staff. And when you start eating people, you can never go back. It a very intense story that moves at a good pace without lingering too much on the eating part. The art is good, using a lot of bright colors at intense moments, then becoming more muted when the action is down. It helps the reader get the correct feeling for the scenes. The characters are interesting and Joey reacts in a believable way to what she sees and is asked to do. I would recommend this graphic novel with the knowledge that it is a horror story with cannibalism in it. I would like to read more from the author and artist. 

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.

Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 2

Today's post is on Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 2  by Ryōsuke Takeuchi. It is 208 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. The cover has Sherlock Holmes on it. 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 ,mild violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes reimaging of Sherlock Holmes and mystery plots. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- After successfully establishing a foothold in Durham and cleansing the city of some of its corruption, William James Moriarty sets his sights on London. To make headway there, he needs the aid of his brother Albert. But while on his way to London, William is kidnapped by a gang of criminals! Will Albert be able to save him in time?

Review- This volume has a lot going on from William dealing with kidnappers to bringing another corrupt nobleman down and meeting his rival Sherlock Holmes. The kidnapping plot is all planned to help get Albert into running MI6 and thus William into the heart of the government itself. The main story is dealing with nobleman, who likes to hunt and kill commoners for sport. The plot to stop him is very twisty and the reader is going to have a fun ride with it. Holmes is well done and the last chapter is following him as he meets Watson for the first time. I look forward to seeing what trouble William is going to stir up 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.

Bad Cree

Today's post is on Bad Cree by Jessica Johns. It is 259 pages long and is published by Doubleday. The cover is white on top and red with trees reaching up into the sky on bottom. The intended reader is someone who likes slow burn horror and heavy topic plots. There is some foul language, no sex, and mild horror violence in this novel. The story is told from first person close of the main character, Mackenzie. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- In this gripping debut tinged with supernatural horror, a young Cree woman's dreams lead her on a perilous journey of self-discovery that ultimately forces her to confront the toll of a legacy of violence on her family, her community and the land they call home.
When Mackenzie wakes up with a severed crow's head in her hands, she panics. Only moments earlier she had been fending off masses of birds in a snow-covered forest. In bed, when she blinks, the head disappears.
Night after night, Mackenzie's dreams return her to a memory from before her sister Sabrina's untimely death: a weekend at the family's lakefront campsite, long obscured by a fog of guilt. But when the waking world starts closing in, too--a murder of crows stalks her every move around the city, she wakes up from a dream of drowning throwing up water, and gets threatening text messages from someone claiming to be Sabrina--Mackenzie knows this is more than she can handle alone.
Traveling north to her rural hometown in Alberta, she finds her family still steeped in the same grief that she ran away to Vancouver to escape. They welcome her back, but their shaky reunion only seems to intensify her dreams--and make them more dangerous.
What really happened that night at the lake, and what did it have to do with Sabrina's death? Only a bad Cree would put their family at risk, but what if whatever has been calling Mackenzie home was already inside?

Review- While this novel is a horror novel, the horror is very slow build. The main plot is really about Mackenzie dealing with her grief and guilt. When her sister suddenly dying, Mackenzie couldn't handle it and she  shut off everything from home. But now the past is coming for her and if she will not deal with it, the past will take all her family to. This was a really good read, interesting characters, and the horror is very slow building so when it hit the page, it is very strong. There is some body horror with the monster at the end but  it added to the over all dread and intensity. The family  dynamics are interesting and feel real, they add so much to the character development Mackenzie. This was a great debut novel and I look forward to reading what Johns writes next. 

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.

Queen's Quality, vol 4

Today's post is in Queen's Quality, vol 4 by Kyousuke Motomi. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Fumi on it in a crown with the queen of hearts card in her hand. As it is both the fourth volume in a series and the second series following these characters, you need to have read the previous volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes urban fantasy, shojo manga, and magical girls. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Fumi and Kyutaro. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Bug handler Ataru offers Kyutaro a deal- he'll reveal everything about Fumi's past if Kyutaro will do what he asks in exchange. Although Kyutaro knows this must be a trap, he goes to see Ataru... what devastating effect will Ataru's evil plan have on Kyutaro and Fumi?

Review- This is just the start and Kyutaro is never fooled by Ataru. In fact the plan is try and clean out his heart, so that Ataru can be saved from his madness. Ataru is being controlled by the real bad guys and he does not even know Fumi, he is making Fumi take another's place in his mind. But that is also part of the bad guys plans, they want Fumi and Kyutaro to try and cleanse Ataru and that is where the volume ends. This world is very interesting and I enjoy how Motomi is revealing it to the reader. She does not overwhelm the reader will all the details and magic at once but gives the information bit by bit, so that the reader learns as Fumi does. I look forward to the next volume. 

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

Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer

Today's fiction post is on Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer by Casey Gilly and Joe Jaro (Illustrator). It is 112 pages long and is published by BOOM! Studios. The cover has Buffy with her back to the reader in a ravaged landscape. The intended reader is someone who likes Buffy the Vampire Slayer and dystopian settings. There is mild foul language, no sex, and action violence in this graphic novel. The story is told from third person close, following Buffy mostly. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- It’s the final Slayer tale in this apocalyptic Buffy The Vampire Slayer adventure like you’ve never seen before!
On an alternate earth ravaged by climate change, vampires daywalk unimpeded under a polluted sky. But even amidst the dystopian harmony between the vampire regime and their human cattle, a hardened, 50-year-old Buffy Summers stumbles across hope in the form of a little girl that believes she is the last Slayer. A rebellion is brewing—a new Scooby gang for Buffy, led by a secret leader. Can this familiar face, along with Buffy and the rebellion, turn the tide by bringing back the sun through science… and possibly even magic?
The Multiverse explodes as writer Casey Gilly (Star Wars, My Little Pony) and artist Joe Jaro (Firefly) along with colorist Joana LaFuente (Fence) and letterer Ed Dukeshire (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) bring you a dystopian tale of Buffy Summers as you’ve never seen her before! Collects Buffy The Last Vampire Slayer #1-4.

Review- This is a great, fast-paced story starring Buffy in a new dystopian way. Vampires and other creatures of the night can now walk in the daytime because something made the sun less powerful. In addition in an act of terrorism, all other Slayers were killed, leaving Buffy the last one. She is in hiding because she is a danger the 'peace' with the creatures of the night. But fate loves Buffy and is not going to let her die quietly. I had a really good time with this graphic novel, it had everything I wanted. From good action scenes to Buffy and Spike together again and unique world to explore. The ending is good and quite final but I would like to see more and see what trouble Buffy, Spike, and the new Scoobies can get into. I would recommend this graphic novel. 

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