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

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

From the back of the book- Asleep and Scheming

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

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

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

Fever

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

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

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

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

History is Delicious

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

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

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

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

Knight of the Ice, Vol. 4

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

From the back of the book- ON THIN ICE

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

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

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

Teen Titans: Beast Boy

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

Perfect World, Vol. 2

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

From the back of the book- A ROCKY ROAD

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

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

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