I Swear I Won't bother You Again!, vol 1

 

Today's post is on I Swear I Won't Bother You Again, vol 1 by Reina Soratani and art by Haru Harukawa. It is 180pages long and is published by Seven Seas. The cover has the main character, Violette holding a book on it. The intended reader is someone who likes fantasy novels, isekai stories, and shojo manga. There is no foul language, no sex, and very mild violence in this manga. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A Chance to Set Things Right
The proud and beautiful daughter of the duke, Violette, has been thrown into prison after committing a crime of passion out of jealousy towards her half-sister, Maryjune. Condemned to jail time, Violette reflects on her actions and repents for her sins. As she does so, time begins to rewind and Violette returns to one year ago, when she first met her sister. Violette determines not go down the wrong path this time, and to become a nun instead. However, contrary to her wishes, she still ends up attracting all the wrong kinds of attention...?!

Review- A strong start to a new series. We begin after everything has gone down and Violette is in prison, just waiting to die. She reflects on her life and why she made the choices that led her there. When she wakes up in her past, Violette resolves to not make the same mistakes, to try and distance herself from the people who drove her into a jealous rage. But the change in her behavior attracts attention. That is mostly the first volume, some world building but lots of character development for Violette and some of the side characters. I like that the author addresses the change in Violette would make those around act differently too, most of these types of stories don't directly address that. So that is one thing that makes this manga unique. The art is good, the characters have layers that the reader starts to see as the story goes on, and the plot is interesting. I look forward to see 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 Croning

Today's post is on The Croning by Laird Barron. It is 245 pages long and is published by Night Shade Books. The cover has the main character's wife on it showing her body long scar. The intended reader is someone who likes Lovecraftian horror and older protagonists. There is foul language, some sex, and violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Donald. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Strange things exist on the periphery of our existence, haunting us from the darkness looming beyond our firelight. Black magic, weird cults and worse things loom in the shadows. The Children of Old Leech have been with us from time immemorial. And they love us...
Donald Miller, geologist and academic, has walked along the edge of a chasm for most of his nearly eighty years, leading a charmed life between endearing absent-mindedness and sanity-shattering realization. Now, all things must converge. Donald will discover the dark secrets along the edges, unearthing savage truths about his wife, Michelle, their adult twins, and all he knows and trusts. For Donald is about to stumble on the secret of the Croning. 

Review- This is an unusual horror novel as it not only the main character an old man, he's 80 in the present of the novel, the novel also moves back in time to fill in the gaps in his memory. Donald Miller has been married to the love of his life for almost 60 years, his children are grown, and he is just trying not to forget everything in his life. But strange things have happened around him and keep happening and Donald knows that there is more than he can remember. The time jumps happen at the beginning of new chapters, so the reader knows when and where they are. Donald is a good main character, he reacts to the strange things with reason and when reason does not explain them, he runs from them. The gaps in Donald's memory are not used to annoy the reader but make the reader understand what has been haunting and hunting Donald all his life. The horror is a slow build so when Donald and the reader understand everything, it is chilling. If you are a fan of Lovecraft and his style of slow horror, then you need to try this novel out.

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.

All the President's Men

Today's nonfiction post is on All the President's Men Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. 349 pages long and is published by Simon and Schuster.. The cover is a picture of Richard Nixon and his closet aids. The intended reader is someone who is interested in one of the biggest scandals in American history. There is some foul language, no sex, and discussion of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The full account of the Watergate scandal from the two Washington Post reporters who broke the story. This is “the work that brought down a presidency— perhaps the most influential piece of journalism in history” (Time, All-Time 100 Best Nonfiction Books).
This is the book that changed America. Published just two months before President Nixon’s resignation, All the President’s Men revealed the full scope of the Watergate scandal and introduced for the first time the mysterious “Deep Throat.” Beginning with the story of a simple burglary at Democratic headquarters and then continuing through headline after headline, Bernstein and Woodward deliver the stunning revelations and pieces in the Watergate puzzle that brought about Nixon’s shocking downfall. Their explosive reports won a Pulitzer Prize for The Washington Post, toppled the president, and have since inspired generations of reporters.
All the President’s Men is a riveting detective story, capturing the exhilarating rush of the biggest presidential scandal in U.S. history as it unfolded in real time. It is, as former New York Times managing editor Gene Roberts has called it, “maybe the single greatest reporting effort of all time.”

Review- An interesting and through account from the two reporters who covered the Watergate scandal from the beginning. Bernstein and Woodward were two reporters that worked fort he Washington Post when they both noticed something odd about a break-in at the Democratic headquarters. Woodward was sent to cover the court proceedings and he noticed that someone from the White House was there on the defendants side of the court. From there he and Bernstein became invested in discovering what was really going on. This is the personal written account of what happened as Bernstein and Woodward investigated and what they discovered. The writing is good, the story, which I knew only a little of, was fascinating, and details are not overwhelming. If you are interesting in what Bernstein and Woodward were really trying to do and the story from their experiences, then you need to read this book.

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

Fiancée of the Wizard, vol 4

 

Today's post is on Fiancée of the Wizard, vol 4 by Masaki Kazuka. It is 196 pages long and is published by Yen Press. As it is the fourth in the series, you need to have read the first three volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who is likes fantasy love stories and happy endings. There is no foul language, no sex, and very mild violence in this manga. The story is told from first person close of the main character, Filimena. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Will love be enough to overcome this final battle...?
Despite being a newlywed, things are far from rosy and carefree for Filimena, as she's continually plagued by dark nightmares of the person she used to be in her previous life. But no matter how powerful Egiedeyrus is, even he's struggling to break the curse... and time is running out. Filimena must figure out a way to confront the ghost of her past before it tears her away from Edy- forever!

Review- A good ending for a good story, with all loose ends tied up and our lovers ready for happily every after. We start where the last volume left off with Filimena losing ground to the curse and is seeing the weeping woman more and more. She learns that the woman is her past life where she died too soon and is still grieving the lost life. Filimena has to make peace with her past life to live this new one. The magician who cursed her was not a surprised but I still felt bad for them. In the end Filimena and Edy get to have a happy life together. I enjoyed this sweet story a lot and I would to read the original novels that this manga is based on. I recommend this manga 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.

Goddess of Filth

Today's post is on Goddess of Filth by V. Castro. It is 141 pages long and is published by Creature Publishing. The cover has a double exposure of a woman's face. The intended reader is someone who likes modern horror. There is foul language, sex, and violence in this novella. The story is from first and third person perspective depending on the character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- One hot summer night, best friends Lourdes, Fernanda, Ana, Perla, and Pauline hold a séance. It's all fun and games at first, but their tipsy laughter turns to terror when the flames burns straight through their prayer candles and Fernanda starts crawling toward her friends and chanting in Nahuatl, the language of their Aztec ancestors. 
Over the next few weeks, shy, modest Fernanda starts acting strangely- smearing herself in black makeup, shredding her hands on rose thorns, sucking sin out of the mouths of the guilty. The local priest is convinced it's a demon, but Lourdes begins to suspect it's something else- something far more ancient and powerful.

Review- A quick read about some young women learning about their own power with the help of an ancient goddess. Lourdes and her friends are just searching for someone to listen to them and their pain and when just playing around, they summon an ancient goddess of women, children, and filth. The goddess and Fernanda have things in common and thus Fernanda makes a good home for the goddess. Then the goddess starting doing what she was worshipped for, she is many things but a sin eater is one of her most important actions. Add in a mystery about women in their neighborhood going missing, the priest being very weird, and other problems that women have in general, then you have the plot. The different perspectives of first person of Lourdes and third person for Fernanda and the goddess was a good way to tell this story, it helps the reader know where and when they are. Castro is a good writer and I look forward to reading more of her work. 

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

Resistance: The Underground War Against Hitler, 1939-1945

 

Today's nonfiction post is on Resistance: The Underground War Against Hitler, 1939-1945 by Halik Kochanski. It is 936 pages long and is published by Liveright. The cover are picture of different resistance movements. The intended reader is someone who is interested in an in-depth guide into resistance movements outside of Germany during World War 2. There is mild foul language, no sex, and some violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- It’s almost shocking to think that now, more than seventy years after the Nazi surrender in 1945, there is not a single volume that has attempted to unify the resistance movements that convulsed Europe during the brutal years of occupation. In her extraordinary work, Resistance, Halik Kochanski does just that, creating a prodigiously researched account that becomes the first to bring these disparate histories into a single narrative.
Taking us from France in the west to parts of the Soviet Union in the east, Resistance reveals why and how small bands of individuals undertook actions that could lead not merely to their own deaths, but to the destruction of their entire communities. As Kochanski demonstrates, most who joined up were ordinary people who would not have been expected—even by themselves—to become heroes. Simultaneously panoramic and heartbreakingly intimate, Resistance is an incomparable history necessary for any home library.

Review- This is an extremely in-depth book about all the different resistance movements in mainland Europe. Kochanski's research is very through and at times can be overwhelming with all the information, the names and dates. But it is also fascinating to read about all the different factions within Europe that were fighting for freedom. Starting at the very beginning of the war and then following some of the bigger names all way to death. This book is not for light reading, this is for people who want to know more about forgotten history. 

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.

Yona of the Dawn, vol 18

 

Today's post is on Yona of the Dawn, vol 18 by Mizuho Kusanagi. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Zeno up looking on it. As it is the eighteenth in the series, you need to have read the first seventeen to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes epic story lines, action shojo, and complex characters. There is no foul language, no sex, and some violence in this manga. The story is told in third person close of the main characters, moves as the story needs. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A Kai Empire soldier fatally strikes Zeno, but he doesn't die! Yona and her friends are chocked by the Yellow Dragon's power as well as what he reveals about both his past and the Crimson Dragon King...

Review- This volume is very tightly focused on Zeno and his life. He is one of the original dragons who served the first Crimson Dragon King. Because of the Yellow Dragon's power, Zeno cannot die. He has lived alone for a long time with his dragon brothers and no Crimson Dragon to follow. Now that he has both again, Zeno will protect them at all costs. This volume is very tragic but it was so interesting to learn about Zeno, the other original dragons, and even see the first Crimson Dragon King. With that battle ending in the Kai Empire retreats from Zeno and I am curious about where the plot is going to head 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 Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

 

Today's post is on The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh. It is 321 pages long and is published by Feiwel and Friends. The cover is a beautiful illustration of a girl in traditional Korean clothes with her skirt turning into the sea. The intended reader is someone who likes fairy tales and Asian folklore. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from first person close of the main character, Mina. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.
Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.
Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.
But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

Review- Mina living in a village by the sea and every year the most brilliant girl in the kingdom will be sacrificed to try and appease the Sea God. But this year's bride is the beloved of her older brother and Mina will not let him be heart broken, so she makes a vow to the Sea God and she is taken instead. In the realm of the spirits, Mina learns that the Sea God has been asleep for one hundred years and the balance of power is in danger of changing, which would be horrible for the human realm. So Mina has a quest, to save the Sea God and maybe herself too. I really enjoyed this novel, as lover of mythology from all over the world, I enjoyed reading a new novel about a water god's bride. The writing is excellent, the characters are interesting, and the love story is cute and moving. Oh is clearly very familiar with the legend and she gives it a wonderful new spin. This is a very fun novel and if you have never read any Korean folklore, then I strongly recommend starting with this novel. 

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.

Canon, vol 3

Today's post is on Canon, vol 3 by Chika Shiomi. It is 192 pages long and was published by CMX Comics. The cover has Canon and Sakaki on it, in an intense embrace. As it is the third in the series, you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, vampires, and complex love stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and some violence in this series. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Canon. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Has Canon been Sakik's pawn all along?
Canon's feelings for the half-vampire Sakaki may be blinding her to the about Rod. Could it be that Sakaki merely using Canon in his own quest for vengeance and that Rod is not quite the evil entity she believed him to be? In fact, she may actually owe him her life! She must find out the truth before Sakai persuades her to destroy the wrong vampire.

Review- Some good plot and character development is this volume. Canon learns that Sakaki is trying to get revenge for his murdered parents, that Rod is the one who murdered them, and because of that act, Rod had a change of heart about humans. Add in that Sakaki and Canon have met before he turned into a servant and loves her, we have a complicated story and one more volumes to wrap all this up in. Canon has feelings for Sakaki and she wants to save from himself and from the vampires that have come for them both. So a lot to do in the final volume and I am curious about how this is going to end and who is going to survive, I'm betting not everyone will. 

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. 

She Walks in Shadows

Today's post is on She Walks in Shadows by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Editor). It is 303 pages long and is published by Innsmouth Free Press. The cover has a woman with white eyes, looking up holding a bowl with tentacles coming out. The intended reader is someone who likes Lovecraft, horror stories, and creating new mythos in Lovecraft lore. There is foul language, sex and sexuality, and some violence in these stories. The stories are all told in different ways as this is anthology book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- They emerge from the shadows, to claim the night...
Women from around the world delve into Lovecraftian depths, penning and illustrating a variety of Weird horrors. The pale and secretive Lavinia wanders through the woods, Asenath is a precocious teenager with an attitude, and the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Nitocris has found a new body in distant America. And do you have time to hear a word from out beloved mother Shub-Niggurath?
Defiant, destructive, terrifying, and harrowing, the women in She Walks in Shadows are monster and mothers, heroes and devourers. Observe them in all their glory, Ia! Ia!

Review- This is a very good collection of short stories inspired by the stories of H.P Lovecraft. There is a little bit of everything in this collection. From addressing very important characters in Lovecraft lore, to new characters falling into nightmares beyond human comprehension. One of the strong elements of this collection, is the different writing styles from the different authors. Everything from scientific journal of a scholar being over taken from within to the conception a Lovecraft monster. The stories are also short, so that the reader gets to the horror quickly. If you are not enjoying a story, just move on to the next one, you will have completely different style, tone, and narrative. If you are a fan of Lovecraft and something new in his world, then you should give this collection a try. 

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