Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Vol. 4

Today's manga post is on Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Vol. 4 by Yū Tomofuji. It is 192 pages long and is published by Yen Press. The cover has Sariphi and the King on the cover. 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 likes fantasy re-tellings of Beauty and the Beast with politics. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Sariphi. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the manga- Confronted with yet another challenge to prove she is worthy to become queen, Sariphi must now entertain the mysterious Duke Galois upon his visit to the palace. But will learning niceties and dance steps be enough to win over the duke, who is rumored to be a fearsome warrior with a burning hatred for all things human? Or has Sariphi been set up to fail her way out of the palace and the beast realm for good?

Review- Sariphi continues to face her challenges head-on. She has to impress a powerful Duke and he is known for his hatred of humans. Sariphi has to learn all about the palace, a special dance solo, and a special partnered dance. The King is not happy about anyone testing her but Sariphi isn't afraid and the King trusts her. Sariphi never changes who she is, even when it would be to be benefit. That's how she is heal the wounds between humans and beasts. Even when she falls, she gets back up with a smile and tries again. That is what saves this interaction and will continue to do so. A very volume and series. 

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. 

Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, Vol. 9

Today's manga post is on Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, Vol. 9 by Rin Mikimoto. It is 200 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Hinana and Kaede on it. As it is the ninth volume in the series, you need to have read the first eight volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo romance with cute characters. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Hinana. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the manga- Shadows of the Past
As Hinana sinks deeper into despair, Akira has no one else to turn to but his rival Kaede. Akira shares Hinana's past family troubles with Kaede because it's affecting her now more than ever. What will Kaede do when he finally hears the truth? And in a moment of respite, Hinana and Kaede take a vacation to a hot spring resort, and, much to their chaperone's dismay, things get a little steamy!

Review- This volume is really great with all the back story for Hinana and why she is how she is. Kaede is willing to meet with Akira man to man and Akira is willing to give Kaede the knowledge that he needs to understand. Kaede is really great in this volume, he steps up as Hinana's boyfriend. He goes to Hinana's mother and has a serious talk. Hinana and Kaede are both growing as characters but I liked seeing more growth from Kaede in this volume. I look forward to 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.

After the Forest

 

Today's post is on After the Forest by Kell Woods. It is 375 pages long and is published by TOR Books. The cover is green with different forest themed elements like leaves, wolves, and like on it. The intended reader is someone who likes fairy tales and their retellings. There is mild foul language, implied sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story follows the third person close of the main character, Greta. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Ginger. Honey. Cinnamon. Flour. A drop of blood to bind its power.
1650: The Black Forest, Wurttemberg.
Fifteen years after the witch in the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans are struggling to get by. Their mother and stepmother are long dead, Hans is deeply in debt from gambling, and the countryside lies in ruin, its people recovering in the aftermath of a brutal war. Greta has a secret, the witch's grimoire, secreted away and whispering in her ear, and the recipe inside that makes the most sinfully delicious - and addictive - gingerbread.
As long as she can bake, Greta can keep her small family afloat. But in a village full of superstition, Greta and her intoxicating gingerbread is a source of ever-growing suspicion and vicious gossip.
And now, dark magic is returning to the woods and Greta's own powers - magic she is still trying to understand - may be the only thing that can save her ... If it doesn't kill her first.

Review- A interesting look at the Hensel and Greta folk legend with an eye to how women are seen in their communities. Greta and Hans are barely surviving when a new baroness raises the taxes and starts demanding payment in flesh. Greta wants to protect her brother from the baroness but she also has her won problems to deal with. This is was a good read, if you like fairy tales and folklore, which I do. The writing is good, the characters are believable, and the setting is immersive. Woods did a good job and I would like to read more from her. 

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

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.

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.

Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, vol 7

 

Today's post is on Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, vol 7 by Rin Mikimoto. It is 200 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. As it is the seventh in the long running series, you need to have read the first sex volumes to understand the story. The cover has the two main characters on it, looking cute in pjs. There is no foul language, mild sexuality, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Disbanded
With Mitsuki constantly threatening to ruin everything Kaede loves, Kaede has decided it's time for Hinana to learn the truth. When Kaede whos up at Hinana's door, he's prepared to tell her all the terrible things he did to Funny Bone. But will this really make Hinana and Kaede's bond stronger? When their relationship is tested by Misuki's onslaughts, Kaede may be pushed to take more drastic measures!

Review- Kaede tells Hinana what happened in his past with the guys from Funny Bone and tragic loss that they all had. They went to the same school and wanted to climb to the stop together. But Kaede discovered that he loved acting more than singing and when he told the group, they had a big fallout. Hinana understands Kaede more now and they are trying to grow together. Of course that doesn't stop his old bandmate from continuing to try and ruin their relationship. The volume ends on a cliffhanger with Hinana's mother discovering that she is dating Kaede. This series continues to impress me with how it handles hard topics and still be funny and cute. I am looking 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.

Six Crimson Cranes

Today's fiction post is on Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim. It is 464 pages long and is published by Knopf Books. The cover has the main character and her swan brothers behind her. The intended reader is someone who likes fantasy, re-telling fairy tales, and light love stories. 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, Shiori. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A princess in exile, the boy she left at the altar, six enchanted cranes, and a dragon from the deepest sea.
Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted, but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.
Raikama has dark magic of her own, and she banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes, and warning Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.
Peniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and, on her journey, uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne--a conspiracy more twisted and deceitful, more cunning and complex, than even Raikama's betrayal. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to contain--no matter what it costs her.

Review- A wonderful re-telling of the swan brothers in an Asian inspired fantasy. Shiori runs away from her betrothal ceremony and falls into a pond. She meets a dragon who promises to help her learn to control her magic. But before that can happen, her step-mother curses her and her six brothers. Far away from home, alone, and unknown, Shiori has to find her brothers, feed herself, and discover a way to free herself and her brothers. The plot is good, the characters are interesting with Shiori being a stand out, and the setting is very fun. Shiori is smart, she is brave, and she is willing to learn from her mistakes. I am looking forward to reading the next volume. 

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. 

Frau Faust, vol 3

 

Today's is on Frau Faust, vol 3 by Kore Yamazaki. It is 154 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Faust, her daughter Nico, and her demon on it. As it is the third volume in the series, you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes reimagining classic folk tales. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person perspective as moving as the story does. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Banquet of Blood
Mephistopheles's right leg has been found, and it turns out that a member of the church has been using the leg's blood for nefarious purposes! But behind the scenes lurks another demon. Now Johanna must thrust herself into battle to stop a girl who is no longer among the truly living... Will Johanna and her cohorts retrieve her demon's limb unscathed, or will they become dinner for the undead?

Review- The first story is dealing with the little girl turned demon and getting the right leg back. Then the reader follows Johanna and friends as they travel to the city of Athens where Johanna made her daughter, to get help for her. The rest of the volume is the story of how Johanna made Nico and what happened when she was discovered. Plus the reader meets one of Johanna's friends who has a demon problem of her own. It is very interesting and nice to see Johanna in school and seeing what trouble she got into as she traveled and learned. The church is involved with the demons somehow and I hope that we get some clarity about it before the manga ends in two volumes. 

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. 

Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Today's post is on Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. It is 512 pages long and is published by Harper Voyager. The cover is a beautiful art piece with the moon, flower, and the main character, Xingyin in the center. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and violence in this novel. The intended reader is someone who likes fantasy novels, Chinese fantasy, and reimagining of mythology. The story is told from first person perspective of the main character, Xingyin. There Be Spoiler Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.
Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.
Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor's son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.
To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

Review- This is a marvelous, sweeping, epic tale of a young immortal trying to get justice for her mother and find herself in the process. As a huge fan of Chinese mythology and storytelling, I had a wonderful time with this novel. It is has everything I wanted- from epic battles, first love, impossible quests, and magic. Xingyin is the hidden daughter of the Moon Goddess and a heroic human. The Celestial Empire cannot even know of her existence. But when she is forced to flee her home, she decides to make her own way and free her mother. Everything about this novel is just the best. The story, the writing, the characters, I loved it all and I cannot wait to get my hands on the second volume. If you like fantasy at all then you need to read this novel. 

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

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.

Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, Vol. 5

Today’s post is on Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, Vol. 5 by Rin Mikimoto. It is 192 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Kaede and Hinana on it. As it is the fifth in the series, you need to have the first four volumes. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, vague re-retellings of fairy tales, and cute characters. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the different characters moving from character to character as the story needs. There Be Spoilers.

From the back of the book- After seeing Kaede at Lockheart Castle, Hinana rests assured that her beloved has eyes only for her … until a surprise visit from Kaede’s manager brings some unexpected news. Kaede’s ex-girlfriend is still in love with him, and she’s decided to try to get him back!

Review- The story continues from the last volume with Kaede working a lot on a series with his ex and Hinana realizing that being with him has some serious downsides. But the big problems in this volume is Kaede’s ex and Hinana’s friend, both admit that they love Kaede and Hinana respectively. Ai-chan didn’t mean to tell Hiana but now that he has, I know that it will cause some issues and Shu, Kaede’s ex, is now threatening Hinana by saying that she will publish photos of her and Kaede and that will ruin Kaede’s career. I hope that the drama with Kaede’s ex does not last too long but I am still enjoying this series and I am curious about what is going to 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.

Frau Faust, Vol. 2

Today’s post is on Frau Faust, Vol. 2 by Kore Yamazaki. 160 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Faust, Marion, and Mephisto 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 fairy tale retellings and adventure manga. The story is told from third person close of mostly Faust but other characters as needed. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Personal Demons

After narrowly escaping a battle with Lorenzo, Johanna falls unconscious. In her wounded state, the century- old memories of her first contract with Mephistopheles runs through her head. In these memories are answers Marion is beginning to understand: what is the nature of his master’s immortality, and how is her curse inextricably tied to the body of her demon? Faust, Marion, and Nico’s immediate aim is to find Mephisto’s right led, a mission that becomes more urgent when evidence of a young girl using demonic power comes to light. To find the next piece of her precious demon, Johanna may even need to form a tenuous deal with Lorenzo…

Review- A good second volume. Faust dreams about her past when she met Mephistopheles for the first time and all the times after until they made a contract. We get to see what drives her and how that has changed her. There is much we don't know yet but the journey is great and I like the characters. The world is becoming more complicated than the church characters would like but it is good to see them confront what lies they have been told and to see Faust overcome what stands before her. The child eating the demon blood is not the one who is the bad guy but it will be interesting to see how everything comes to light. 

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.

Frau Faust, Vol. 1

Today’s post is on Frau Faust, Vol. 1 by Kore Yamazaki. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Faust and her demon on it. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes retelling of classic stories. The story is told from third person close of Marion. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- More than a century after an eccentric scholar made an infamous deal with a devil, the story of Faust has passed into legend. However, the true Faust is not the stuffy, professorial man known in fairy tales, but a charismatic, bespectacled woman named Johanna Faust, who happens to still be alive. Searching for pieces of her long-lost demon, Johanna passes through a provincial town, where she saves a young boy named Marion from a criminal’s fate. In exchange, she asks a simple favor of Marion, but Marion soon finds himself intrigued by the peculiar Doctor Faust and joins her on her journey. Thus begins the strange and wonderful adventures of Frau Faust! 

Review- An interesting first volume in a retelling of a classic myth. Marion knows the story about Faust or at least the story that the church wants known. Of course the truth is more complicated. Marion wants to learn from Faust and he goes with her. Most of this volume is about plot and world development. Marion learns about the real Johanna Faust, the real deal she made, and about the people who are hunting but not why yet. The last story is a short story about a girl who finds a museum for invisible things. I really enjoyed that and I hope that Yamazaki does more with that story later. A solid first volume and I look forward to seeing where Johanna and Marion are going. 

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

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Vol. 1

Today’s post is on Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Vol. 1 by Yu Tomofuji. It is 192 pages long and is published by Yen Press. The cover has the two main characters on it. There is no foul language, no sex, and very mild violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes fairy tale retellings. The story is told from third person close of Sariphi. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The ferocious King of Beasts rules over his subjects- animal and man alike- with an iron paw. In a display of domination, he demands regular offerings from the humans… but there’s something amiss with the ninety-ninth sacrifice. Unlike her predecessors, Sariphi isn’t afraid of the king! Will her insolence lead to a gruemore end… or a new beginning?

Review- A great first volume in a series. Sariphi is the newest human sacrifice, the 99th one, and she is fine dying, she doesn’t fear the beasts or their King. But the King is more complicated than anyone else knows and he is hiding a big secret. This is a great way to start a story, lots of world building, interesting characters, and a big plot that is going to be great to see unfold. I am hopeful that this will have some exploration on being you who are vs who people want you to be and of course maybe deal with mental health as our main character has some serious issues.

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.

Over the Woodward Wall

Today’s post is on Over the Woodward Wall by A. Deborah Baker. It is 204 pages long and is published by Tor. The cover is orange with a wall in the center and two children sitting on top of the wall. The intended reader is someone who likes portal fantasies like Wizard of Oz. It is the first in the The Up-and-Under series. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of the characters moving as the story does. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the dust jacket- Avery is an exceptional child. Everything he does is precise, from the way he washes his face in the morning, to the way he completes his homework – without complaint, without fuss, without prompt.

Zib is also an exceptional child, because all children are, in their own way. But where everything Avery does and is can be measured, nothing Zib does can possibly be predicted, except for the fact that she can always be relied upon to be unpredictable.

They live on the same street.

They live in different worlds.

On an unplanned detour from home to school one morning, Avery and Zib find themselves climbing over a stone wall into the Up and Under – an impossible land filled with mystery, adventure and the strangest creatures.

And they must find themselves and each other if they are to also find their way out and back to their own lives.

Review- As someone who really likes portal fantasies and loves the novels of the Wizard of Oz this was a wonderful novel that I enjoyed very much. Zib and Avery are trying to get to school when a wall stands in their way and because they are children and they need to get to school, they climb over the wall and into another world called the Up-and-Under. It is a place where girls can become crows, owls come in all colors, and the only way to get home is to find the Queen of Wands in the Impossible City on the Improbable Road. The writing is excellent, the story is fun and safe for all readers, and the characters are fun. I am very excited to see Baker a.k.a. Seanan McGuire take on the Wizard of Oz and all the tropes with it, the second volume cannot come out soon enough. 

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.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter

Today’s post is on The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss. It is 400 pages long and is published by Saga Press. It is the first in her The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club #1. The cover is dark green with different images like a pen a key, a woman with a gun and other things from the book itself. There is mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book - Mary Jekyll, alone and penniless following her parents’ death, is curious about the secrets of her father’s mysterious past. One clue in particular hints that Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes.
But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana, a feral child left to be raised by nuns. With the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde, and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherine Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein.
When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. Now it is up to the monsters to finally triumph over the monstrous.

Review – An interesting and inventive retelling of classic horror novels. We start with Mary Jekyll trying to discover what she is going to do to survive now that her mother is dead. As she goes through her mother’s things she discovers that her mother had a secret bankbook. Mary begins to investigate her mother and then her father’s past. We get to see lots of classic characters but see them in a very different light like Henry Jekyll, Sherlock Holmes, and others. The writing is good with one mild thing that just takes some getting used it, over the course of the chapters the narrative is interrupted with asides from the characters in real time. It can be jarring when first reading it but I got used to it as I read the novel. I really had fun with this novel, I liked the characters, the plot was interesting and fun, and the setting was good. If you are looking for an inventive retelling with classic stories and characters then you should give this novel a look.

I give this novel a Four of out Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given this book as a gift.

Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, volume 2

Today's post is on Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, volume 2 by Megumi Morino. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. It is the second in her Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty series. The cover has the two main characters on it. The intended reader is someone who has read the first volume, likes shojo manga, and retelling of fairy tales. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this story. The story is told from third persons close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- THE UNINVITED
Despite being a scaredy-cat and crybaby, high schooler Tetsu finds himself working at the eerie estate on the hill, where Shizu–the only child of the Karasawa family–is secreted away. However, his friendship with Shizu quickly turns to fear when several spirits of the dead appear before him, borrowing her appearance. As he struggles to find the humanity in her supernatural condition, Tetsu must also face a question at once terrifying and heartbreaking: What if the true Shizu never returns?

Review- We pick up right where left off with Tetsu working for and being afraid of working for Shizu. But he has some hard things to think about concerning her. She is avoiding Tetsu because she does not want to frighten anyone but it more than just that. She does not have the basic will to live. A ghost follow Tetsu and possesses her and then refuses to leave because if Shizu does not want to live her life then he should do it for her. That makes Tetsu start to really think about Shizu and the kind of lonely life she has had to live up to now. This volume was slow to get going but once Tetus started to deal with the ghost and Shizu, it starting going faster. I am curious about how Shizu can be saved and who in her family does not want that and why.

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.

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

Today’ s post is on Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley. It is 256 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover has Beauty on it with a rose. The intended reader is someone who loves fairy tales and retellings. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character, Beauty. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A strange imprisonment...
Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in looks, she can perhaps make up for in courage.
When her father comes home with the tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows she must go to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. Her father protests that he will not let her go, but she answers, "Cannot a Beast be tamed?"
Robin McKinley's beloved telling illuminates the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple, Beauty and the Beast.

Review- This is one of the best, if not the best, retelling of Beauty and the Beast I have ever read. I first read this book about twenty years ago and I loved it as a teenager; so when I wanted to revisit it I had my previous feelings in mind. I was not disappointed in my old favorite. It is still as wonderful, magical, and everything that it was when I first read it. The story starts out when Beauty is a child and she is dissatisfied with her given name of Honor and wants to be called Beauty. We travel with her and her family as she grows, they lose their fortune, and have to move into the countryside. This story is the perfect version of Beauty and the Beast, we see Beauty grow to feel compassion, mercy, and then love for the Beast. We see that he is really not a monster but someone who is trapped by magic and unable to help himself or change his own fate. Wonderful retelling and I highly recommend it.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money many years ago.

The Ancient Magus' Bride, volume 3

Today's post is on The Ancient Magus' Bride, volume 3 by Kore Yamazaki. It is the third in her Ancient Magus' Bride series and as such you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. It is 184 pages long and is published by Seven Seas. The cover has the three main characters Chise, Ruth and Elias on it. The intended reader is someone who likes urban fantasy and shonen manga. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Chise. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- An Ancient Evil
Chise has come face to face with the person responsible for the brutal killings at a nearby churchyard- and to her shock, it's someone she recognizes from her visions of the tragedy at Ulthar! Appalled by the realization that the alchemist who wrought such horror is still p to his old tricks, Chise must act to stop him. But in order to control her dangerous powers as a sleigh beggy, she'll need all the help she can get.

Review- We get a lot of character development in this volume with Chise learning more about what Elias is truly capable of. The bad guy is revealed to an immortal called Joseph and other names but he ,mostly, calls himself Joseph, so I will to. He is insane and does not understand or care that his actions are evil. He is doing it to live a pain-free life, whatever that means he never says. I liked everything that happens in this volume from Chise getting Ruth to seeing what happens when Elias loses his temper, I felt that a lot of ground was covered in this volume. It is ends with Chise being told a story about Elias from many centuries ago and I look forward to seeing him long before he was anything like Chise knows him as.

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.

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

Today's post is on Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley. It is 256 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is white with a red rose on it. The intended reader is someone who likes fairy tale retellings. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character Beauty. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- "Like all of the other doors I had met in the castle, this one opened at my approach. The room it revealed was a large, warm, and gracious one. On one wall to my left a first was burning in a fireplace; two armchairs were drawn up before it. One chair was empty. In the other a massive shadow sat. I caught a gleam of dark-green velvet on what might have been a knee in the shadowed armchair.
"'Good evening, Beauty,' said a great harsh voice."
A young woman, well educated and honourable, accepts responsibility for her father's act and leaves her family to enter the enchanted world of castle and Beast. The Beast she finds is not the one she imagined, but can she stay with him?
A gifted storyteller embellishes the classic tale, developing a new and very real world of her own in a love story that has all the wonder and magic of the fairy tale.

Review- This is one of the best, not the best, retelling of Beauty and the Beast. McKinley is a master of her craft and she gives everything she has in this retelling. Everything is perfect in this novel from the pacing, the characterization, way the castle works, and the relationship between Beauty and her Beast. Beauty is a nickname, her birth name is Honor, and she does not feel very beautiful at all. The Beast is not a young man still angry with his curse but someone who has made some peace with the curse and the choices that he made that invited it into his life. Beauty's sisters are kind and loving, and Beauty herself is more than just a victim in this story. She is clever and wants to have an active role in her choices and life. I love everything about this book. I first read this book about 25 years and I still love it so much today. Everyone should read this book and remember the magic of fairy tales.

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