Captive Hearts, Vol. 02

Today's manga post is on Captive Hearts, Vol. 02 by Matsuri Hino. It is  216 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two characters on it. As it is the second volume in the series, you need to have read the first volume to understand. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga and silly plots. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Megumi decides he wants to become a formal servant of the Kogami family so he can be worthy of Suzuka's love. But when wealthy heir Hiryu arrives to claim Suzuka as his bride, can Megumi even compete?

Review- So Megumi has decided that he wants to earn Suzuka's love but she wants more than ever to break the curse. She wants to know that Megumi's love for her is real and not a product of the curse. Also they learn that the curse was not originally one but something made from love. I am enjoying how this story is going with both Megumi and Suzuka are communicating and trying to help each other. I look forward to understanding the curse and seeing how much more silly the plot is going to get. 

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. 

Radiance

Today's fiction post is on Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente. It is 432 pages long and is published by TOR. The cover is half black and half white with a woman's figure in silhouette and a movie camera in front of her with golden light coming out of it. The intended reader is someone who likes science fiction with a lot of classic pulp. There is mild foul language, discussions of sex and sexuality, and no violence in this novel. The story is told in many ways from interviews to transcripts. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Radiance is a decopunk pulp SF alt-history space opera mystery set in a Hollywood-and solar system-very different from our own, from Catherynne M. Valente, the phenomenal talent behind the New York Times bestselling The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making.
Severin Unck's father is a famous director of Gothic romances in an alternate 1946 in which talking movies are still a daring innovation due to the patent-hoarding Edison family. Rebelling against her father's films of passion, intrigue, and spirits from beyond, Severin starts making documentaries, traveling through space and investigating the levitator cults of Neptune and the lawless saloons of Mars. For this is not our solar system, but one drawn from classic science fiction in which all the planets are inhabited and we travel through space on beautiful rockets. Severin is a realist in a fantastic universe.
But her latest film, which investigates the disappearance of a diving colony on a watery Venus populated by island-sized alien creatures, will be her last. Though her crew limps home to earth and her story is preserved by the colony's last survivor, Severin will never return.
Told using techniques from reality TV, classic film, gossip magazines, and meta-fictional narrative, Radiance is a solar system-spanning story of love, exploration, family, loss, quantum physics, and silent film.

Review- This is an incredible piece of fiction, I have never read anything like this before. The story is centered on Severin and her life and her possible death. The setting is a galaxy that humanity can traverse via the Orient Express and all the movies are silent. The mystery at the heart is what happened on Venus and to Severin but the journey is the true joy of the the novel. The writing is excellent, the characters are moving and interesting, and the setting is incredible. I have not read anything by Valente before but I will be seeking her books out now. I highly recommend this novel. 

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. 02

Today's manga post is on Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 02 by Yuu Watase. It is the 184 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the second volume in the series, you need have read the first volume to understand the story. The cover has three main characters and one villain on it. The intended reader is someone who likes classic isekai fantasy, shojo manga, and beautiful art. There is no foul language, no sex, and some violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the manga- During their journey Chamka and Takiko come upon a burning house. Chamka tries to save a young girl's life and demonstrates his special power: to freeze things in ice! The effort weakens Chamka however, and he must stay in the village to recuperate. The girl's family offers shelter, but her father sells Chamka out to the bandits who are hunting him. That's when Limdo reenters the picture...

Review- The plot is moving right along in this volume. Takiko and Chamka are on the trail of another Celestial Warrior and trying to do good as they go. But because the Priestess and her Warriors are seen as harbringers of doom, they are also dodging trouble all the way. But they do find a new Warrior, a very scared little boy, who just wants to be accepted. I am enjoying this plot, after reading the first Fushigi Yûgi, with the Priestess and Warriors being seen as good and getting help from everywhere they traveled. It is an interesting way to take the plot and the characters. I look forward to he next volume and what trouble will come 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 Nice House on the Lake, Vol. 2

Today's post is on The Nice House on the Lake, Vol. 2 by James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno (Artist). It is 176 pages long and is published by DC Comics. The cover has Walter in the center and the others around him floating like in water. As it is the second volume, you need to have read the first one to understand the story. There is foul language, no sex, and some violence in this graphic novel. The intended reader is someone who likes end of the world stories with diverse characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- One of the most critically acclaimed and bestselling horror books of 2021 returns for its shocking second act—and now is the perfect time to enter the house! The 10 hardy survivors gathered in the house by their mutual friend Walter thought they’d finally cracked the code on his plans…and now everything they thought they knew has literally changed. Can they free themselves from their patterns? Or are they all just determined to build a prison of their very own?

Review- This comic is like a good TV show, intense, to the point, and doesn't over stay it's welcome. Walter is trying to get some control over his group and he is starting to understand that is not possible, that's humans are too much for him to control and still be loved by his friends. So he must make a choice and live with it. I feel that this was a great ending for a interesting series, there is more that can be done but this is a  strong send off if nothing more happens. The art is good, the writing is good, and the pacing is excellent, not too fast or too slow. I would be interested in whatever Tynion does next. 

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

Chuck Klosterman X: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st Century

Today's nonfiction post is on Chuck Klosterman X: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st Century by Chuck Klosterman. It is 464 pages long and is published by Penguin Press. The cover is black the title and author's name in white. The intended reader is someone who likes recent history, music, pop culture, and mild philosophy. There is mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- New York Times-bestselling author and cultural critic Chuck Klosterman sorts through the past decade and how we got to now. Chuck Klosterman has created an incomparable body of work in books, magazines, newspapers, and on the Web. His writing spans the realms of culture and sports, while also addressing interpersonal issues, social quandaries, and ethical boundaries. Klosterman has written nine previous books, helped found and establish Grantland, served as the New York Times Magazine Ethicist, worked on film and television productions, and contributed profiles and essays to outlets such as GQ, Esquire, Billboard, The A.V. Club, and The Guardian. Chuck Klosterman's tenth book (aka Chuck Klosterman X) collects his most intriguing of those pieces, accompanied by fresh introductions and new footnotes throughout. Klosterman presents many of the articles in their original form, featuring previously unpublished passages and digressions. Subjects include Breaking Bad, Lou Reed, zombies, KISS, Jimmy Page, Stephen Malkmus, steroids, Mountain Dew, Chinese Democracy, The Beatles, Jonathan Franzen, Taylor Swift, Tim Tebow, Kobe Bryant, Usain Bolt, Eddie Van Halen, Charlie Brown, the Cleveland Browns, and many more cultural figures and pop phenomena. This is a tour of the past decade from one of the sharpest and most prolific observers of our unusual times.

Review- This is another excellent collection of essays from Klosterman. He covers many subjects in this collection from music to sports to television. Of course his opinions are all his own but Klosterman is so funny and enjoyable to read. He gives new insight into some recent history and makes it funny too. With the index in the back, you can just read about the topics that interest you. But I would recommend you read everything that Klosterman writes about as he is such an entertaining writer. 

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

The First Night with the Duke Volume 3

Today's manga post is on The First Night with the Duke Volume 3 by Hwang DoTol and MSG (Artist). It is 288 pages long and is published by Net Comics. The cover has Ripley making a heart shape with her hands. As it is the third volume in the series, you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild action violence in this manga. The story closely follows the main character, Ripley. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A stalker is harassing Etoile, so to help her out, Ripley devises Operation Fake Boyfriend.
She figured if they pretended that Etoile and Wright were a couple, they could chase off the stalker, and it would also be a chance to bring the two of them together for real. But why the heck is Zeronis here instead of Wright?
Together, Zeronis and Etoile look just like characters from a fairy tale. And even though she knows they're just acting, she can't bear to see them as a couple.

Review- More shenanigans from Ripley and co, with Etoile being stalked, Zeronis being slightly jealous, and Ripley being in the middle of it all. So Ripley and Zeronis are getting married but with her best friend in trouble, Ripley can't ignore her! So Ripley tries to get Etoile and Wright together, as she always shipped them. But when Wright can't help, Zeronis steps in and more silliness follows. But Ripley has more to worry about with Rose's jealously getting out of control. Ripley is really great in this volume from being over the top to being so in love. She is a joy to read about. The last half of the volume is serious but ends well and I can't wait for 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.

Do You Want to Start a Scandal

Today's post is on Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare. It is 376 pages long and is published by Avon. The cover has the two main characters in a passionate embrace. It is part of the Castles Ever After series but you don't have to have read any of them to enjoy the story. The intended reader is someone who likes light hearted, historical love stories. There is mild foul language, sexuality, and no violence in this book. The story is duel perspectives of Charlotte and Piers. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library. Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan? Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall? Perhaps the butler did it.
All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing. Unless she can discover the lovers’ true identity, she’ll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville—the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she’s ever had the misfortune to embrace. When it comes to emotion, the man hasn’t got a clue.
But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own. The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit . . . and melt a woman’s knees with a single kiss. The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte’s safety is the truth about his dark past.
Their passion is intense. The danger is real. Soon Charlotte’s feeling torn. Will she risk all to prove her innocence? Or surrender it to a man who’s sworn to never love?

Review- A cute historical romance with good characters. Charlotte's mother is willing to do just about anything to see her daughters well married. But Charlotte wants love in her marriage and is not willing to change that. Piers just wants to do his missions and move on the next one. But when Charlotte and Piers are caught improperly alone, he makes a declaration for her hand. Poor Charlotte is determined to save him and herself from a loveless marriage but of course as they get to know each other, they learn they have much in common. As it is a romance, they fall in love and it's a fun ride as they do so. I would recommend this novel, if you enjoy historical romances and don't mind a little spice too. 

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. 

The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade

Today's nonfiction post is on The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade by Ann Fessler. It is 354 pages long and is published by Penguin Press HC. The cover is pictures of different girls from the forties and fifties. The intended reader is someone who is interested in women's history. There is mild foul language, discussion of sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A powerful and groundbreaking revelation of the secret history of the 1.5 million women who surrendered children for adoption in the several decades before Roe v. Wade.
In this deeply moving work, Ann Fessler brings to light the lives of hundreds of thousands of young single American women forced to give up their newborn children in the years following World War II and before Roe v. Wade. The Girls Who Went Away tells a story not of wild and carefree sexual liberation, but rather of a devastating double standard that has had punishing long-term effects on these women and on the children they gave up for adoption. Based on Fessler's groundbreaking interviews, it brings to brilliant life these women's voices and the spirit of the time, allowing each to share her own experience in gripping and intimate detail. Today, when the future of the Roe decision and women's reproductive rights stand squarely at the front of a divisive national debate, Fessler brings to the fore a long-overlooked history of single women in the fifties, sixties, and early seventies.
In 2002, Fessler, an adoptee herself, traveled the country interviewing women willing to speak publicly about why they relinquished their children. Researching archival records and the political and social climate of the time, she uncovered a story of three decades of women who, under enormous social and family pressure, were coerced or outright forced to give their babies up for adoption. Fessler deftly describes the impossible position in which these women found themselves: as a sexual revolution heated up in the postwar years, birth control was tightly restricted, and abortion proved prohibitively expensive or life endangering. At the same time, a postwar economic boom brought millions of American families into the middle class, exerting its own pressures to conform to a model of family perfection. Caught in the middle, single pregnant women were shunned by family and friends, evicted from schools, sent away to maternity homes to have their children alone, and often treated with cold contempt by doctors, nurses, and clergy.
The majority of the women Fessler interviewed have never spoken of their experiences, and most have been haunted by grief and shame their entire adult lives. A searing and important look into a long-overlooked social history, The Girls Who Went Away is their story.

Review- A deeply moving and troubling book about American history before Roe v. Wade and the girls who were sent away for the shame of being pregnant. Fessler is herself a child from a girl who was sent away and started this journey as a way to understand her birth mother and herself. The interviews in this book are heart-breaking to read. From women who were date raped and then shamed for the pregnancy to girls who were just uneducated about sex. The interviews are raw and very hard to read but the stories these women have to tell are important and enlightening, about stolen futures and life long trauma from their children being taken from them. I would recommend 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. 

The First Night with the Duke Volume 2

Today's manga post is on The First Night with the Duke Volume 2 by Hwang DoTol and MSG (Artist). It is 256 pages long and is published by Netcomics. The cover has Zeronis on it. As it is the second volume in the series and you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. There is no foul language, mild sexuality, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Ripley. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the manga- Nothing is going the way it did in the novel.
Ripley has to do whatever it takes to get out of marrying the obsessive main character! She tries to trick Zeronis into thinking she's gravely injured. But now that she's lying in bed pretending to be hurt, it makes her feel bad to see how worried he is about her. She never thought he'd be so concerned.

Review- Ripley continues to try and make the story follow the original one but nothing she does is working. So she decides to do something very crazy. She jumps out of a window and fakes terrible injures. But Zeronis is not put off, in fact he swears that she'll be the most beautiful bride in the kingdom. I really like this series, Ripley is so funny but so earnest, and Zeronis is a one woman man, even if the woman doesn't understand that yet. I'm so glad that this series has been brought over into English and I can't wait to read the next volume. 

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.