Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 12

Today’s post is on Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 12 by Akimine Kamijyo and is published by Tokyopop. As it is the 11^th in the series you need to have read the previous volumes to understand the story. The cover has Kyo in the background with Benitora and Sasuke looking cool in the front. The intended reader is someone likes manga, action story, and developing relationships; given the nature of this series should older teen and adult.  There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this volume. The story is told from third person god with character’s thoughts added in for character and plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The battle between Kyo and Shinrei begins! Shinrei unleashes his devastating dancing-sword technique, penetrating the blind spots in Kyo’s defenses. Believing victory to be within his grasp, Shinrei taunts Kyo by bringing up a painful chapter from his past. Kyo desperately tried to shut out the traumatic memories by violently hacking into Shinrei- but the attack backfires as Shinrei uses his own blood to forge a powerful magic sword! Will Kyo survive against this deadly new weapon?

Review- Everyone from the Mibu thinks that Kyo is the same person that he was when he left them; except weaker. They are wrong. The Mibu do not understand what Kyo has learned and grown to love. So when Shinrei beats Kyo to a standstill he thinks that he has won. Shinrei then fights Muramasa and Yuya. Yuya knows that she cannot defeat him but she is not going to stand around and watch someone get killed. That is when Muramasa realizes she means to Kyo. Because of that he thinks that Kyo could survive the training that Muramasa wants to give him. Shinrei is a favorite villain. He is smart, devious, and a little evil. But just a little. He puts a water dragon into Yuya’s heart and gives Kyo a time frame to defeat him in. So the group splits up to get information, stop other Mibu attack’s and for Kyo to learn Muramasa’s final techniques. I love this series.

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

Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 11

Today’s post is on Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 11 by Akimine Kamijyo and is published by Tokyopop. As it is the 11^th in the series you need to have read the previous volumes to understand the story. Kyo is on the cover with Tenro looking very cool. The intended reader is someone likes manga, action story, and developing relationships.  There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this volume. The story is told from third person god with character’s thoughts added in for character and plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Long, long ago…
Bontenmaru commanded the Oou, but now he has joined the Shiseiten! He joined the dark side because they were much stronger than any troops he had ever led. Now he is extending Kyo an offer to join his side. Regardless of Kyo’s decision, he will need to return to his master- the one that forged his sword; the legendary Toushuo Muramasa!

Review- We meet a second member of Kyo’s four emperor’s Bontenmaru. He is a big guy who uses a wooden sword to fight. Of course they have a little dust up but then Bontenmaru gives Kyo the message that he was sent to do to. Kyo’s master Muramasa has sent for him. When they get to Muramasa’s he is dying and wants to teach Kyo his final techniques. Before they can get started the Mibu clan sends assassins for Muramasa and introduces a good sub villain Shinrei. Very fun fights. The last half of the manga is a story about Yukimura and his past. Muramasa is a great side character. He is not in the manga for very long but he changes so much for Kyo and company. Kyo does not much growth in the volume but because of the events in this volume he will.

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.

Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 10

Today’s post is on Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 10 by Akimine Kamijyo and is published by Tokyopop. As it is the tenth in the series you need to have read the previous volumes to understand the story. The cover has Kyo and Tenro (his sword) looking cool on it. The intended reader is someone who loves samurai manga, cool characters, and unusual romance. There is language, lots of violence, and partial nudity; older teens and adults only. The story is told third person god point of view with thought of the characters thrown in for character and plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of book – There Can Be Only One
Kyoshiro is back! But Demon Eyes Kyo isn’t prepared to give up control of Kyoshiro while Nobunaga lives. At long last, the secrets of the Mibu Clan are revealed! Akira, the blind swordsman, has returned as well with earth-shaking claims- he has taken Kyo’s body… and Yuya’s life!

Review- Finally the real villains of the series are revealed- the Mibu clan! Kyoshiro comes clean about being an assassin for them and that he did kill Yuya’s brother. When Akira comes back with his claims Kyo just forces himself back to the surface to kill Akira. It is very dramatic and some of my favorite scenes in the series. When Yuya comes back because Akira did not kill her and does not want to harm her the expressions on Kyo’s face are priceless. Kyo is someone you have to study to read his expressions. He has a great poker face but once you can read him he is very expressive. Kamijyo talks about Kyo’s shyness in one of her author interviews, when I first read that I was taken aback. I did not think that Kyo was shy at all. But then thinking about him I realized he was. When he is not in a fight he does not know to react to anything. Yuya confuses the hell out of him. All women either are trying to use him or kill him and she just does not really fit into those experiences. More great fight scenes and unexpected character development abound in volume 10.

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

Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 9

Today’s post is on Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 9 by Akimine Kamijyo. It is published by Tokyopop. As it is the ninth in the series you need to have read the previous volumes to understand the story. The cover has Kyo, Benitora, Yukimura, and Sasuke looking cool on it. The intended reader is someone who loves samurai manga, cool characters, and unusual romance. There is language, lots of violence, and partial nudity; older teens and adults only. The story is told third person god point of view with thought of the characters thrown in for character and plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book-Demon Hands of Bone
The most feared general of all time has returned! His name- Oda Kazusa-no-suke Nobunaga! Even more shocking than “The Master’s” identity is the demonic power that drives him. Can Kyo the thousand-killer find a way to defeat an enemy who has conquered death itself?

Review- Again the blurb for this book is just not giving how great this series is. But then again maybe they think that if you are reading volume nine of a series then you just want to get a quick plot idea before diving right in. Of course more fighting but just like the rest of the series it is good and very exciting. Kyo and Nobunaga has it out but then Kyoshiro takes over for a good plot twist. In every volume we have been getting more and more about why Kyo needs to get his body back but we still do not have all the details. Yuya and Akira reach his body. Their interactions are some of the best in the series and this travel time together is what builds that bond. The art is what really sales the fight scenes for me. The way that light, shadows, and ink move on the page from scene to scene is truly beautiful. Kamijyo is a great manga-ka and I just love her. More general character development with some important side characters and then we have finished volume 9.

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.

Samurai Deeper Kyo Volume 8

Today’s post is on Samurai Deeper Kyo Volume 8 by Akimine Kamijyo. It is published by Tokyopop. As it the eighth in the series you need to have the series in order to get what is going on. The cover Kyo in the forefront looking cool with Yuya faded in the background with her eyes closed and tears on her face. There is language, some partial nudity, and lots of violence. The intended reader is older teens and adults. The story is told in third person god perspective with thought of the characters added in for plot and character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Straight to Hell…
As trouble brews in the Sea of Trees, a mysterious ninja from Sasuke’s past plants himself in Kyo’s path, stopping the band dead in their tracks with a ninja shadow technique. But nothing can really hold this dynamite group for longs, and they soon decide to head toward the ominous “Hell’s Gate” where Kyo is about to let it all break loose!

Review- I mostly like the blurbs for this series but this one leave much to be desired. Yes Kyo and those with him are having fights and all that fun but Yuya was kidnapped in the previous volume. What is going with Yuya is much more interesting. She is with Akira and others of the 12 Shogun Gods as they are traveling towards Kyo’s body. I love Akira. He is one of my favorite characters from manga. At this point in the story he is playing both sides but he will pick in the end and become more fun. Yuya is having so much character growth. She remembers more about her brother’s murder and that changes a lot for her. Back with Kyo and company fights abound. Yukimura has joined the company and is more than ready to get busy with a villain. Some added plot themes of Sasuke and Kyo maybe being ‘The Crimson King’ just give more favor.

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

The One

Today’s post is on The One by Kiera Cass. It is the last book in The Selection Series. It is 323 pages long and is published by Harper Teen. The cover is white with the main character in a white dress looking at the reader. The intended reader is someone who has read the first two books. There is no sex, mild language, and some violence in this book. The story is told from the first person close of the main character America. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The time has come for one winner to be crowned. When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed that she would find herself anywhere close to the crown- or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes how much she stands to lose- and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

Review- For a final novel this was pretty good. I went into reading this series not thinking that I would like it. I have read and watched a lot of shows just like this but Cass does make her story stand out. I like America and I like the world that Cass has developed. I did find some the drama a little forced and out of character but that is okay it is a last novel and Cass is trying to tie everything up.  I would and, at the same time, would not be interested in Cass writing more in this world. If she does decide to write more I would like to see more of the world than what is in The Selection. The drama that I felt was forced was coming. Maxon and America had to deal with the fact that she had loved someone else before him. How I felt that it was forced was in Maxon's reaction. I really do not think that he would have taken it as far as he did. He was always a very reasonable character and that was a little extreme for him. But as it is a last novel I guess that Cass felt he needed to be a little more passionate. I am glad that he recovers his sense quickly. I look forward to reading whatever Cass writes next.

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.

Samurai Deeper Kyo Volume 7

Today’s post is on Samurai Deeper Kyo Volume 7 by Akimine Kamijyo. As it is the seventh in the series you need to have read the previous volumes in order to understand the plot. The cover has Kyo and Sasuke fighting and looking cool on the cover. There is language, some sexuality, and lots of violence. Older teen and adults are the intended readers for this manga. The story is told from third person god point of view with character’s thoughts added from time to time for character growth and plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Death or Glory
A showdown of epic proportions is about to take place as Sasuke realizes that he and Kyo share more than the murderous intent in their eyes! They both wield the same Muramasa sword that was rumored to have slain thousands of men. As their duel heats up, a ferocious foe from Kyo’s past appears and adds fuel to the fire…

Review- Kyo just cannot meet new people with trying to fight with them. He is just not interested in someone unless they fight him. So Sasuke is one of Yukimura’s ninja’s and is considered the strongest of them all. He is based on a real historical person with the same name. There are author’s interviews in between chapters and Kamijyo is answering questions from readers. The one question that made me laugh was about her great grasp on Japanese history. Kamijyo tells the reader that she did not study Japanese history; she studied world history and is now having to do a lot of reading. Of course more people are coming to fight Kyo as he is getting closer to where his body is. One of the 12 Shogun Gods wants a piece of Kyo and Benitora gets his own trouble. I enjoy how Kamijyo makes character development happen during fight scenes.  And more relationship development between Kyo and Yuya. Kyo just cannot keep his mouth shut and that makes his life so much harder than it has to be. But do not feel too bad for him; he does bring it on himself.

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.

Sea of Shadows

Today’s post is on Sea of Shadows by Kelly Armstrong. It is 406 pages long and is published by Harper. It is the first in her Age of Legends series. The cover is dark with red in a vague phoenix form. The intended reader is young adult but the story is so well written that I think adults who like fantasy with a touch of horror should enjoy this novel. There is no sex, lots of violence, and some mild language in this novel. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- They hear the Spirits. They must obey.
In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashlyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.
Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.
Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, they sisters must journey to find each other, sending them far from the only home they’ve ever know. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court- one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

Review- This is a fast paced novel with interesting characters and a good setting. I love the Asian setting and favoring in this novel. With castes, words, and religious actions the favoring is not subtle but good. With the plot happening in a very little time there is little time explaining the side character’s personal thoughts that leave something to be desired. One of the character’s I would like to have some head time with is Gavril. He does not believe in spirits or anything like that. I want to know why. He should but he does not and no reason is given. With the thief he would not know anything about the spirits because he is so low and young in the world. The girls are strong and I look forward to exploring what they are going to do now. With evil magic, court secrets, and everything else Ashlyn and Moria have quite the mountains to climb.

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.