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Wednesday, December 14, 2011


2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge




We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up...

I am excited to be participating in the TBR pile reading challenge being hosted by Evie at Bookish.I have never participated in a reading challenge. This one is really great because I definitely have a lot of books that I bought and was really excited about, but just didn't get to them. This is a great motivator for me to really read them. The challenge levels are as follows:


1-10 - A Firm Handshake

11-20 - A Friendly Hug

21-30 - A Sweet Kiss

31-40 - Love At First Sight

41-50 - Married With Children


I'm going to stick with A Firm Handshake. I can level up but not level down so I'm not taking any chances. I'm a hoarder and have several hundreds of books ranging from children novels, to historic novels about certain wars. I ended up just grabbing a few books from my shelf that I've been meaning to read. (So in other words random picks) These are the top 10 of my Firm Handshake list:

  • .hack//Another Birth by Miu Kawasaki 
  • Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander 
  • Player One by Douglas Coupland 
  • Upgrade to Free by Beth Ziesenis 
  • 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson
  • The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman by Meg Wolitzer (the advance copy) 
  • 24-Karat Kids by July Goldstein and Sebastian Stuart 
  • The Invisible Man by H.G. Well 
  • The Romance Readers' Book Club by Julie L. Cannon 
  • The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas 

Well, that is my tentative list for the TBR pile reading challenge. Odds are the list will change on my mood I'll probably be reading lots of Darren Shan novels I've been putting on the side, and maybe FINALLY finish the series of unfortunate evens, and find my Inkdeath novel where ever that was misplaced to. But all in all this is my rough list, what is everyone else going to pick for this upcoming year?

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Review: My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 8


My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 8
My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 8 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 1 of 5 stockings



Last installment Usui confessed to Misaki while fireworks lit up the night sky, then the novel ended with them walking hand in hand.

Maid-Sama!/My Sweet Kaicho volume 8, the Maid Cafe's having a magical witch-maid day, but wait Usui's not a witch how can he cast a truth spell on Misaki? Shintani although heartbroken, his determination to gain Misaki's love is stronger than ever. Seika High is have elections for all positions are up for grabs.

I'm not a fan of this volume actually I found it quiet a bore, I literally had to go back and read the volume again just to write this review. Considering I read it 5 minutes before starting to writing this review just tells me it's no good. I'm just going to be frank with you I didn't like it. 1 stocking out of 5 is what I'll give it.


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Holiday readings from yours truly,

I'm Catholic so for me the celebrating starts the 24th which is also my first day off of a 4 day holiday, yes it means I also have boxing day off! But this post is about what will you read during the holidays? I for one have my holidays packed with family visiting my boy and I, organizing parties, clean my house, decorating and waitressing.

For the time being I want to post 1 review a day, which is actually harder than I thought, but around the 20th I'll be busy. If you've been reading my blog for some time you'll see a pattern of manga, but like I said I'm posting 1 a day and manga's one of the easiest things for me to review.

My Holiday Readings list are actually stalled novels and the ones I'm currently reading
The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman (the advance readers copy)
Upgrade to Free
The Fury and Dark Reunion
Wolf Island
Player One

Knowing I work in a restaurant the holidays tend to get quite busy, because of these factors odds are I won't be able to complete this reading list. Let's hope for the impossible, what are you reading this holiday?

Review: My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 7


My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 7
My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 7 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stockings



Last installment we left Misaki and Usui at the school camp out resolving Usui's worries, this of course is before the side stories. The last side story we left off with was Usui playing prince with Yukimora's little sister, although in the end prince Usui and princess Misaki ended up together, and Yukimora and his sister regained a sibling relationship.

In volume 6 of Maid-sama/My Sweet Kaicho there's an all you can eat sweet glutton competition at Maid Cafe, of all the people to show up Shintani an old childhood friend and classmate, will her cover be blown? What started out as a girls day out to the cultural festival ended up in a date between Misaki and Usui!

I can't tell you much about what happens in the novel without giving away some key story elements and events. All I can say is that I found the two last chapters of this book too rushed. Many people must be thrilled about this volume, but look at the two last chapters I'm someone who likes to savor a long awaited moment not someone who rushes to it and then puts it on the back burner. I can't give it 5 stockings but I can give it 4.5 stockings.




Monday, December 5, 2011

Review: My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 6


My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 6
My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 6 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 3 of 5 stockings



In the previous installment of Maid-Sama!/My Sweet Kaicho we left Kanou wondering why Usui and Misaki try to deny and and their feelings for one another. Once he confronted Misaki she claimed that he was mistaken and no such chemistry is between them. When Kanou confronted Usui he claimed he has already tired of girls.

In volume 6 of My Sweet Kaicho there's a new student who enrolled in high school Shintani Hinata, his sole purpose for transferring is to find his first love. But just wait this bottomless stomach of a man clams that his first loves name is Misaki-chan ... could it be that Usui's got some competition on his hands? What will happen to Misui, will it actually become Misani? Will new love blossom read to find out. We as the readers will be following Misaki, Usui and Shintani durring an outdoor school campout where they have to barricade the boys and girls apart for safety reasons.

I for one liked this volume, it has a good flow and vibe to it. There is a new possible main character slash wedge in between Misaki and Usui introduced, which keeps things "fresh" as we get into the later volumes. It kind of seems to me that Misaki and Usui's relationship is starting to get a little stale, don't get me wrong I'll voting for them to end up together. It just seams as if something is missing or it's going in a different direction. Because of this I gave it 3 stockings out of 5.



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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Review: Love Neko


Love Neko
Love Neko by Kazuhiko Mishima

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



Yabuki Eiji a high school teacher, just got himself in a sticky situation. One night while surfing the web, he came across a web site that sold 3D High-Tech Moe-Girl "Necoco" who was described as the Ultimate Loving Machine, and impulsively pressed "Purchase". While a little time passed by, he entered his household to find a young man with cat ears and a tail who introduced himself as Necoco!? It doesn't end there, with Eiji threatening to return Necoco, Necoco decides to show his worth the only way he knows by being the "Ultimate Loving Machine".

I absolutely loved this story and even the short stories in chapter 5 and 7. It's got a cute yet rough love to it. To put it bluntly I've read many romance novels and manga but not many Yaoi, so I can't really compare it to much. To see the High school teacher and the robots love evolve was quite hilarious. Necoco never really evolved nor changed as a character, Eiji although came to eventually love the weird cat boy.

I'm a sucker for manga romance and cat ears so I have no choice but to give this book 4 stockings out of 5. Okay in all seriousness this is an actually good short story, it would have gotten 5 if there'd be a deeper plot to the story, I know that it's made to be more lighthearted and to attract a female audience, but a little more plot wouldn't hurt the cause.



Saturday, December 3, 2011

Review: My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 5


My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 5
My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 5 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



Last installment we left after two small side stories and the maid beach house. We start volume 5 with Misaki and her friends, and planing to go to a tea party with some band members. The reason for this high school friend Sakura (short pigtail girl) has a crush on one of them and must get the chance to meet him. Misaki in need of some girl time tags along, but unknown to these girls, the band members aren't as devoted to their fans as they portray.

That isn't the only problem, someone is trying to buy Maid Latte, but who would in their right mind dare to do this to the cafe. It doesn't take much of a scientist to figure out that Igarashi Tora the student council president of Myabigaoka Academy is behind it. When push comes to shove, Misaki joins a partner competition with one of her co-workers in the best butler competition to show the cafe and her worth. The catch it's an all male competition.

In Maid-Sama or My Sweet Kaicho volume 5 we get to view a little more of Usui, we get to see more of his serious side which was a rare in the previous volumes. We get a glimpse of his apartment where there's only a table and a couch, in his refrigerator there's only a bottle of water and some juice. You not only get to see more of Usui but also more of the perfect Misaki's not so perfect cooking.

I loved the co-operation between Usui and Misaki and how she finally realized how much she actually depends on Usui. The big story really started to get momentum in volume 5 which starts to give you a few ideas to different outcomes to the story. I'll give this novel 4 out of 5 stockings, a volume that can not be skipped out of the series and definitively worth the read.






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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Review: Maid Sama!, Vol. 4


Maid Sama!, Vol. 4
Maid Sama!, Vol. 4 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Last installment we left with Kanon trying to hypnotizing Usui. At the beginning of the fourth volume Kanon fails at hypnotizing Usui into hating Misaki. With his plans of getting rid of the female body in Seika High, he tries plan-b and hypnotized Misaki. When she wakes up at 7 o'clock in the morning she will hate Usui, but with Usui's help she's able to stay awake and avoid being hypnotized.

With a girl hating hypnotist on a rampage in the school, Misaki trying to increase enrollment into Seika High and the maids at the cafe try to help the manager's sister succeed in her beach side shop. With so much happening how can Misaki ever rest.

I enjoyed the fact that Aoi made another appearance in this volume. Misaki and Usui's romance is finally starting to grow, to a more then obvious state to all who see them together. The story's slowly progressing, as real life would make it seem. If you compare it to novels the romance and story is sluggishly advancing. But you can see that characters both major and minor are slowly evolving and breaking through their obstacles. Which is a nice aspect to this series.

I'm giving volume 4, 4 out of 5 stars isn't that neat. The reason for this is because Aoi makes an appearance, just kidding. The actual reason is because the Misui relationship is progressing at an enjoyable rate (you see what I did Misaki + Usui = Misui. Also Usui's love towards Misaki is all too obvious ... who is he? We haven't yet been able to find out ... it's starting to bug me. Maybe it will be revealed in the next installment of Maid Sama!



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Monday, November 28, 2011

Review: Maid Sama!, Vol. 3


Maid Sama!, Vol. 3
Maid Sama!, Vol. 3 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Last installment we left with Seika Senior High midway through their sports festival with Misaki winning all the sporting events up to date (except one) with the goal to make life more comfortable for the female population.

In Maid Sama! volume 3 we continue the sporting festival by following an exhausted Misaki while she fights to win and also shows her soft side. Misaki's high school life isn't getting any easier neither is her work or social life. With many twists and turns from a cross dressing boy trying to steal Usui away by any means to mysterious happenings involving a high school hypnotist, life is anything but easy.

I found this volume fun and cute, although unlike the second volume it's more serious. The romance in this novel is slow if not at a standstill Usui just can't get his feeling to reach Misaki no matter how he tries. Although Misaki just isn't realizing her feeling, with helps prolong the story while the readers hope for the relationship to blossom. With the main two mostly detailed while the other characters are more background detail, it certainly helps with foreshadowing.

Don't get me wrong I did enjoy the read but I'll have to give it 3 out of 5 stars. I really liked Aoi-chan's appearance and hoped to see more of her, although it was short lived. The only serious event that might effect Misaki and Seika High is in the last chapter of Maid Sama! volume 3. If you're accustomed to reading my reviews, slow books with the intent to foreshadow the next book are a big turn off to me. This book is somewhat like that, although there were still some consistency to what I like to call mini stories or mini events.



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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Review: Maid Sama!, Vol. 2


Maid Sama!, Vol. 2
Maid Sama!, Vol. 2 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



We currently left volume one with Usui confessing to Misaki. In the second installment a flustered Misaki can't keep her head on straight, unsure of what Usui's got up his sleeve, so sure that he's messing with her. Her presidential work piles up, she isn't able to study, she can't concentrate on anything including the cafe. A series of events happens possible romance, school festival, Misa ... the boy!? and is the president switching schools!?

Volume 2 of Maid Sama! stays true to the initial portrayal of the characters in the first volume, little character development is made which normal for this type of story, after all it is only the second volume. Besides the recent list of characters, we have a new face added to the story I'll just say he's the president of another school and keep it at that.

I enjoyed the fact that Misaki enjoyed being a boy more than a girl, which didn't impress Usui. The side stories are very fun and light hearted which make the read enjoyable and slow paced. They are a few serious moments and knight on a white horse moments, but all in all this volume can't compare to the first, although the art work is as beautiful as always. I liked it but that's it, it's a good story but not 5 star good, that's why I'm giving it 3 stars.



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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Review: Maid Sama!, Vol. 1


Maid Sama!, Vol. 1
Maid Sama!, Vol. 1 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The first installment of Maid Sama! Bad tempered, boy hating Misaki Ayuzawa, is president to a school of an 80% boy population school. Her more then prejudice attitude towards any male, has caused her more then enough problems when it comes to the student council and overall student body respect. Although she has her own reasons, when she was younger her father fell in dept and left the family with the dept to payoff while he ran away from responsibility.To re-pay the dept and support her fragile mother and little sister she works as a maid at a cafe. One day Usui-san discovered her secret! What will happen to Misaki, will Usui-san spill the beans?

I enjoyed this manga very much, I usually don't write reviews from manga because they either lack to much information to write about, they didn't peek my interest, too predictable, characters aren't interesting, or it's just plain boring\bad. This manga is none of those, it has just enough happening in every chapter to keep my interest while sticking to the main plot.

I like the fact that you actually get to follow Misaki Ayuzawa story and see why she acts the way she does, her background story, a growing romance, and also a change in character. Most manga miss the fact that the first volume of a series is to introduce your main characters and not keep everyone in the dark. I think that most authors think that the readers should already know what's happening without even telling them anything, which really just leaves plot holes everywhere.

Maid Sama! volume 1 gets a total of 4 stars for an introduction volume to a series. It gives enough information to the story while still withholding just enough to make readers want more. I definitely recommend it to my readers who want a romance, comedy, shoujo, school life manga.



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Saturday, November 19, 2011

Review: Death's Shadow


Death's Shadow
Death's Shadow by Darren Shan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The heroin Bec stars yet again in another one of Darren Shan's Demonata novel. The second time we peer through her eyes, she has taken over Bill-E's body and made it her own. With the tunnel yet again sealed, Grubbs, Kernel and her beloved Bran (Beranabus) set off into the Demonata realm in search of the mysterious demon they call "Shadow", leaving Bec with Devrish. Bec is forced to recite Bill-E's life day and night to please Devrish, while feeling lonelier then the 1000 years spent in the tunnel. She discovers that she possess the ability to read thoughts when she touches someone or something.

Many events happen to poor little Bec, just as she starts her new "normal?" life.

I personally did not like Bec that much, it was okay that's it and that Darren should stick to male leads in the future. Although Death's Shadow was in my eyes a great success, I was able to connect with Bec. This installment to the series maintains a good balance between action, plot line, character stories. I loved the way he interpreted Beranabus' story at the beginning of ever part (i.e. part 1,2,3) of the novel. If a series on Beranabus was created with him being the main character, you bet your sweet butt, I'd read it.

Because Death's Shadow was the 7th novel of a 10 novel series you can clearly see that the last few books including this one will/are tying up loose ends, concluding certain mini stories, and characters both minor and major. The conclusion to this novel is one that reveals so much but still leaves so many questions unanswered. I've already got my grubby little hands on the next installment Wolf Island, and I hope to have a howl of a time.




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Sunday, November 13, 2011

Review: Orange Crows


Orange Crows
Orange Crows by James Perry Ii

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I originally bought this manga for a friend, but got entranced by the front cover. Orange Crows volume one is a story about Cierra a young witch exiled, for Illegally accessing a research area for higher class witches, conducted her own magical experiment without a licence, and destroyed an important research room.

I must admit the story's slow and the characters are a little bland; with the exception of Cierra and Natty. The reason I rated it so highly was because it captured my attention, I got entranced in their world. The concept of Witches, Wizards, and Fairies. Also the fact that Fairies aren't these girly little winged people but more of magic absorbing monsters, makes it quiet intriguing. I also love the artwork, I know it's not amazing, nor is it detailed to every strand of hair. But that's what I love about it, It's draw detailed enough to the fact that it looks good without being overbearing.

This is definitely a manga I would follow up on in the near future.



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Review: Demon Apocalypse


Demon Apocalypse
Demon Apocalypse by Darren Shan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book 6 of Darren Shan's Demonata, definitively one of the most reveling and plot twisting novel of this series up to date. We return to Grubbs, where we once left off from The Blood Beast. The plane aflame passengers in hysteria, demons slaughtering everyone they find. Grubbs' only hope is to take a leap of faith with a bum or hope Lord Loss kills him quickly... which he wouldn't do.

As the title explains there is a demon apocalypse in this novel. So much is revealed, once I look back from book number one (Lord Loss), up to book six the foreshadowing was everywhere. Although that's what makes a good book/series, being able to take even the smallest of events/actions and being able to create a plot twist. I obviously loved every note of this novel from beginning till the end. You'll see reoccurring characters, both those that you're used to reading about when the protagonist is Grubbs and those that you would think are impossible to be in the same timezone. The fact that The Demon Apocalypse ended the way it did, gives one just enough of a thrill, and satisfaction of the demonata story up to date that you'd be able to stop reading the series and be happy with the result. But it also pulls you along wanting all the more.

Darren Shan has once again put me at a loss of words, I was afraid that after Blood Beast it would just continue to go downhill but it pick right back up again, not skipping a beat. I give this novel 5 stars out of 5, it's well written, captivating, for anyone who loves a good created story, or just wants a everyday myth like demons/monsters with a twist. I dare you to put the book down once you start.



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Monday, August 15, 2011

Review: Vampire Knight, Vol. 2

Vampire Knight, Vol. 2
Vampire Knight, Vol. 2 by Matsuri Hino

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



We last left our story as Zero the newly formed vampire gives yuuki his gun that only harms vampires to use on him if he turns into a class E vampire or any of the others if they get out of control.

Volume two is an all around Zero fest, we tag along on Zero's fight against the vampiric nature that's befallen him. But there's something more his teacher comes to the academy, what will happen? You have to realized Zero's teacher is a vampire hunter and taught Zero everything he know's on the subject. Will he kill, support, or in-cage Zero? Only by reading this second book will this question be answered.

Okay, so here we go. This book was able to give me more of an outlook on Zero although he was depressing, but who wouldn't be depressed after turning into the one thing you hate. After all if I turned into a leach ... I'd be depressed (note leaches are what I hate). Yuuki ends up being reckless as ever showing us her vigilante side.

Spoilers people!
When Zero bites Yuuki, it seems to me that they've started a forbidden love. You see how I see it is Kaname and Yuuki are basically married but Yuuki's also fooling around with Zero. Near the end of the second volume she gets caught by Kaname and says she doesn't regret what she did but question's to why her heart hurts when she looks at Kaname (guilt duh!). But if you look at this in the best friend going to go on a killing rampage, she's just helping her friend.

So that's that. I haven't been able to read or review, between, work, a sick baby, hanging out with my friends before they leave for college or just move. Oh and I've started a Nuzlocke run, You can check that out on my gaming blog http://moms-gaming.blogspot.com/ enjoy.



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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Review: Vampire Knight, Vol. 1


Vampire Knight, Vol. 1
Vampire Knight, Vol. 1 by Matsuri Hino

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



We start volume one with Yuuki sitting in the snow, staring at her gloves, while a rogue vampire tries to attack her, moments later a vampire named Kaname. Years later in present time, Yuuki is a perfect attending Cross Academy, the school is separated in two halves The Day Class and The Night Class. What's special about the Night Class is that their vampires, the role of the perfects is to make sure the secret of the vampires don't get discovered. (The perfects are Yuuki and Zero.)

Vampire Knight volume one, to me it seems more of a love triangle story than anything. But it's Yuuki and Kaname who like each other and then Zero who's the third wheel who thinks he's running the show... that was a horrible analogy, but I hope people understood it. I remember reading this volume when it was published in Shojo Beat, but I had to refresh myself on the manga. I like the whole concept of the vampires and humans co-existing together without the humans even being aware of what's happening. The plot hasn't ripened enough for me to criticize or have much of an opinion on the matter.

The Characters themselves Yuuki's the only one that I'm able to have a solid opinion on, she's the goody-two-shoes type of girl. She seems to give her over 9000% when it comes to protecting vampires but everything else she just shoves aside. She seems like a normal girl, with a normal crush (although in her case on a vampire), the way she behaves is realistic with the exceptions of her outrageous stunts. The rest of the characters appeared too briefly to make an opinion even a vague one like I gave Yuuki.



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Monday, August 8, 2011

Review: Jack Frost, Vol. 2


Jack Frost, Vol. 2
Jack Frost, Vol. 2 by JinHo Ko

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Book 2 of the Jack Frost series, we last left the characters of Jack Frost staring up at the falling
"blood snow" and the sense that Amityville's final legend will manifest!

So we begin with the allied District's discussion and decisions on how to stop/destroy the North District. Soon after we revert to Junoa, a familiar face, but there's something strange happening. Junoa seem to have a reoccurring dream about this girl in her class; Junoa's woken up by Chahui who's covered in tears, clothes cut up and bloodied, with a completely traumatic expression on her face. The problem is what does it mean!? If you read you might or might not find out, it's all up to.

I found it improved at the beginning but slowed down quickly after the beginning but nearing the end, picked up speed. I love the twist at the end of the book, the ending seemed so perfect. I think that made up for all the slowdown in mid read. The arts still as amazing as the first. I'm going to give it 4 stars, I'm a little reluctant to because I don't like giving them away.

The fact is that this novel doesn't have much of a plot line, it's got "The big" plot line which is basically war of the districts, but then you have "mini" plots which are few, in volume 2 it's trying to get the Mirror Image's memories back. But like I said I'd give it a 4, more of a 3.5 but goodreads doesn't have half stars.



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Review: Jack Frost, Vol. 1

Jack Frost, Vol. 1
Jack Frost, Vol. 1 by JinHo Ko

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Say Hello Class, this is Junoa. She's a new Transfer student from Amityville Private High School. This is the first line you get your main character introduced, but 7 pages in or so, her head gets severed from her body. She soon after learns that she is a Mirror Image, a Mirror Image is a human who dies but instead of going off to the after life they go to Amityville. There for she can no longer die... again. Jack Frost is the number 1 student at Amityville although their less (or are) then 7 people who reside at Amityville (staff included).

There are a few more things about this volume I'd like to discuss but I don't like spoilers and I'm one to try to give as little information to make the reader actually read the book.

But all in all the plot is there, but it's so easily missed that you might as well say their isn't. Most of the pages of this manga/graphic novel are used for the art/action scenes, instead of dialogue or story lines. To sum up what's happening is the fact that there have been a few "fateful events" that have happened which is stirring up. The big attention grabber to the South, Eastern, and Western District is the fact that North District has Junoa aka Mirror Image.

I'm a big fan of the artistry it's very detailed and different than other manga's I've read. It's darker than most I've seen, which is very refreshing. A big 3 stars in total.



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Saturday, August 6, 2011

Books bought from Feb 2011 till now.

Okay so I'll say it now 99% of my books are bought second hand, and since I live in a town of 5000 people I don't have much choice. Oh and another thing, we don't have a bookstore or a second had shop we have a foodbank.
.hack//Another Birth vol.1.1//INFECTION_ by Miu Kawasaki
Kingdom Hearts vol 1 by Shiro Amano
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: The Desert Tiger by Hajime Yatate & Yoshiyuki Tomino, and Liu Goto
Descendants of Darkness vol 1 by Yami no Matsuei
Kilala Princess vol 1 by Rika Tanaka
Vampalicious! by Sienna Mercer
Switched by Sienna Mercer
The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
The Secret Language of Girls by Frances O'Roark Dowell
The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda
Voyage of fear (Bionicle #5) by Greg Farshtey

Eldest by Christopher Paolini
All-American Girl by Meg Cabot
Saving Jessica by Lurlene McDaniel
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Finding the Forger by Libby Sternberg
Studying Boys by Stephie Davis
Beaner O'Brian's Absolutely Ginormous Guidebook to Guys by Naomi Nash
Princesses Don't Sweat by Kaz Delaney
The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan
Genesis by Poul Anderson
The Cheerleader by Caroline B. Cooney
The Vampire's Promise by Caroline B. Cooney

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson
The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion by L.J. Smith (new)
The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K.Rowling (never read)
Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Molly Moon Stops the World by Georgia Byng
The Romance Readers' Book Club by Julie L. Cannon
Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander

Leven Thumps: The Gateway to Foo & The Whispered Secret by Obert Skye
The Thrilling Life of Pauline de Lammermoor by Edeet Ravel
Night at the Museum by Leslie Goldman
The Hunters' Haunt by Dave Duncan
Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda


To tell you the truth I didn't think I bought that many books these past months until I wrote them all down.

Taking over my life one page at a time!

I've been collecting books ever since I was a little deranged girl, it started with french Disney books and escalated to the book collection I have now. There's a little problem though I've been buying an buying books and I have a ton that haven't been read yet. I've given quiet a few of my books to my son, seeing as I read to him all the time and he likes to trace the words from the books/novels (he steals some of my novels to read). So here's my non-updated library in my room . The top shelf is cut off because it's used for video games.
While my childhood collection is my son's now, and some additions over the years were made to my collection. Now my other collection is on a bookshelf my father built me a few months ago.  This bookshelf's in my living room ... what a messy living room. 
I've bought many books since these pictures were taken. I just found my camera, but now my charger is missing ... but once I find it I'll take pictures every month of what books I've bought/gotten. So until then! 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Review: Blood Hound

Blood Hound
Blood Hound by Kaori Yuki

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Rion the destructive Domperignon crucher, is a highschool girl searching for her missing best friend. Her only clues are the fact that her best friend's seeing a "vampire" and there are numerous girls disappearing and reappearing later on with their blood sucked dry. There's also a business card from a Gothic Host Club.

I'm going to keep it to that, I find it funny that I can't give this manga a proper introduction for this review without me spoiling anything. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, although I wish there were more volumes and expanded on the main characters. This manga has a little bit of everything, romance, comedy, mystery, school life (not much thought, but school uniforms yes!), etc.

My honest opinion is read the manga! I don't want to say more, because odds are I'm going to ruin it for you or spoil it. Great read.



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Review: Bloody Kiss, Volume 2

Bloody Kiss, Volume 2
Bloody Kiss, Volume 2 by Kazuko Furumiya

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



The second and final volume of the Bloody Kiss. We introduce a new main character Mizukami Sou, Kiyo's long lost childhood friend returned (just a little cheesy). Sou also happen's to be a destroyer of evil (vampire slayer of somesorts), and has returned to protect Kiyo, what will happen!?

Okay so that sums up what was new in volume 2. I love the artwork, and preferred the story line in the second volume to the first one. There's a little bit of a love triangle thing going on in this novel which is okay, but you knew from the fist 15 pages of the first volume who she was going to pick. The story line IS better then the first but it's still a typical love story.

Now I'm going to talk about the mini short story at the end; Please, Mr.Vampire. It's a story of a shop owner named Nagase and a customer named Miku Taira. Nagase a vampire who's is number 23, who only show's up at 23:23. His shop grants wishes to a chosen few, but the deal breaker is that the customer has to give his/her blood to make it happen. What will Miku Taira do!?

Okay so I actually really liked this story, it was cute, sweet, and had a mini moral in it saying that it better to be a fine woman and do your best at everything you do, then to try to achieve beauty for selfish purposes.



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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Review: Bloody Kiss, Volume 1

Bloody Kiss, Volume 1
Bloody Kiss, Volume 1 by Kazuko Furumiya

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



The young protagonist Kiyo finds herself inheriting an old estate where two vampires reside, from a grandmother she had never met. Kuroboshi a half vampire\human and his servant Alsh (vampire) have been chased off to this mansion and resided there way before Kiyo had even existed.

Okay so here we go, so that was just a little info on the manga vol. As the title suggest it's a romance type manga although no kissing ... yet, although there is some biting. The reason why I would give this volume 3 stars is because I like the artistry, the plot is lacking, but it's has a good concept. Knowing this type of manga odds are instead of elaborating on the vampiric aspect they'll just, make it an evolving romance. No that that's bad, just lacking. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I love the fact that vampires are only aloud to take from one person in their existence. The blood from that person will make the vampire mature into an adult, the blood give is called a "Bride". There's something that confuses me though "A vampire can only take blood from one human. We call that person a Bride." as said in ch 1. I'm not sure if that's to "absorb" the "power" of that person with the blood they drink or what. Because is the last chapter of this volume, Alsh drink the blood of a male and says "Even thought I don't like sucking a male's blood." Obviously he's drank before, so I'm guessing that they drink blood to survive (although you see them eating food?), but can only pick one person to be their bride. This is one of those "would you please elaborate?".

The characters, you've got a physically strong main female character, the needy guy always wanting to be with the protagonist, and the perv. This choice in character types, is okay just okay.



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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Favorite place to read.

Everyone has a different place to read, when I was a kid I would sit on the futon in my parents spare room next to the record player/5 disc CD player. I'd put 5 CD's in the CD player and one of my favorite vinyls press play or put the needle on the track. I'd sit back open my book and be absorbed, next thing I knew I went through both side of the vinyl and 5 CD's.

But that was then and this is now. Now that I live with only my son and I in our own home, my favorite place to crack open a book is my bathtub. I usually have a bubble bath while I read, the only problem I have with my bathtub is that it's sides are narrow, instead of supporting my back it just gives me neck pains.

My second favorite place to read is my dining room. I don't have much for a dining room, I have a highchair and a 2 person table with 2 red glittery chairs (it's a retro set). Although these aren't the reasons why I love it so, it's because I have french doors that open to my back yard and transparent white curtains, so the sun just pours in. I make myself a cup of coffee and bring out some tea biscuits, only after I've fed my son, and so when preparations are complete I read my wonderful book.

So I guess my bathtub is my night reading place, and my dining room for my mornings. Where's your favorite place to read?

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Review: Chibi Vampire, Volume 14

Chibi Vampire, Volume 14
Chibi Vampire, Volume 14 by Yuna Kagesaki

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This review is for the complete series.

I give it 2.5 stars out of 5.

I enjoyed this book to a certain point, the fact that their was a defective vampire who was the complete opposite of a vampire, was cute, creative, and fun. So this "defective vampire"'s name is Karin, she can walk under the sun, she survives on food and has no ability controlling bats. That isn't the weirdest part of Karin the vampire, instead of drinking blood like a normal vampire she injects her blood into her victims, but in most cases she has major nose bleeds.

The characters are funny, you've got Karin's grandma whom I love, and her grandpa at the end (won't say more except read to know what I mean), Karin of course more in the beginning, Anju's the quiet one of the family and has the whole loli thing down, Ren's a pervert, their father's a wimp, and their mother's a b**ch. So really it's sort of a typical comedy family, besides the fact their all vampires.

Now why did I find this manga worth 2.5 stars, it's because it jumps from one genre to another. I'm usually not a fan of genre jumping, which didn't change for Chibi Vampire. The story starts off as a comedy, gags here laughs there and some odd encounters. The story continues with Karin saying (not word per word) this isn't a romance or I hope this doesn't turn into a romance. Of course you know it'll become a romance, which is okay in my book, most stories have a little romance. But then it takes a turn for the serious, don't get me wrong there's still comedy, but I started losing interest with the couple thing and even more interest with how serious things were getting.

Originally I was going to give this series a 2 because it was okay, that's all I thought of it near the end, that it was okay. But the way it ended pulled at my heart strings and I got attached in the last manga book, I was so sad and felt so sorry for all the people/vampires affected. I decided then that I was going to give the whole manga 3 stars, but here's why I didn't. The last manga was chalk full of minis and in all honesty I don't like short stories, I can deal with oneshots. But short stories in writing I don't like because I can't get into it. But short stories for manga's that relate to another manga story, is not something I enjoy too too much.

So my final thoughts and opinions on this manga are read it if you have the time, it's a nice funny manga. Don't expect too much, the story's really slow, but if you have the time and patience, odds are you'll enjoy and maybe even love it.



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Friday, July 29, 2011

Review: The Cheerleader

The Cheerleader
The Cheerleader by Caroline B. Cooney

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I've decided to read Vampire novels for one month, The Cheerleader started the month. This story revolves around Althea a loner high school girl with no friends, who just wants to be popular. Go figure she lives with, you guessed it a vampire, oddly enough you never hear of parents or siblings. The vampire offers to give Althea the chance to be popular in exchange for her to sacrifice people to him. The people will only be tired a little bit or so he says, with this in mind she agrees and so the story begins.

I don't want to spoil anything for the readers so my thoughts on this book and why it's worth 3 stars. It was a short read, enjoyable, I didn't quite like Althea. She honestly reminded me of my high school life, but that isn't why I didn't like her. It's the fact she became a loner and instead of going out and trying to find a friend, she wanted to skip all the little guys and go strait to the popular group. I was a loner in high school but, I dealt with it, my friends were all graduated, or from a different school with the exception of 1.

I've got to say though I love the vampire, the fact that Caroline B. Cooney kept on repeating that the vampire had "mushroom colored skin" annoyed me a little, after all there's many different kinds some are red, but I know what she meant (those white ones that have a tint of gray). I miss vampires with capes, who kept to the dark, and had a malicious feel to them, this book had that. Every vampire novel the vampire has a certain reason how\why they are strong or where they get their strengths from, now in this novel I found it sort of cheesy (won't say how\what don't want to spoil). It's not that I've read this in another vampire novel, it's just cheesy non-vampire twist, so I guess it's kay.

The reason I gave it 3 stars is because of the vampire really, I just really liked him. I know I should go through plots, writing styles, main characters, and yaddy yaddy yaddaa. But honestly I find the vampire made the book and it was an enjoyable read.



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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Review: Honey Bear Book of Rhymes

Honey Bear Book of Rhymes
Honey Bear Book of Rhymes by Dorothy Taylor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I've got to say there's nothing very special about this book. Although the fact that I've had this book my whole childhood and I've read each nursery rhyme a hundred times over to the point that it's embedded into my mind, has caused me to give it 4 out of 5 stars. If I can read a book for 19 years and going and not burn it ... it's met it's quota to entertain a hundred fold.



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Review: My Very Dear Bad Boy

My Very Dear Bad Boy
My Very Dear Bad Boy by Kamaro Kikuchi

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I was a cute 4/3 onshot manga collection, that kept some of the same characters. I've got to admit it was pretty entertaining, it got me chuckling at some parts, a little too light hearted for my taste. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed myself. It was defiantly a good read.



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Review: The very best picnic

The very best picnic
The very best picnic by Eugenie Fernandes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This was a book I used to read all the time as a little girl. I loved the fact that the main character's name was Jessie, which by chance everyone called me. I always hoped to have a picnic just like Jessie's mom made for her daughter... of course it didn't happen but, I've loved the story for years and probably years to come.



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Review: Blood Beast

Blood Beast
Blood Beast by Darren Shan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I love the Demonata series, so don't get mad about the two stars. I found it entertaining, but it was the slowest of the series. Although I've got to admit it got me re-reading the Demon Thief for obvious reasons if you've finished the Blood Beast. Although their names were different I always had my suspicion when I read Slawter but shrugged it off. I know that the Blood Beast was written as too slowly excite us till the end, so that we may be prepared for the Demon Apocalypse. I did like the fact we saw a little more of Grubbs internal troubles and struggles.
I'd like to keep this to a no spoiler review. Butt all in all 2 stars out of 5. It was good but it wasn't great.



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Review: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I've got to admit I prefer the Disney Alice over the original. In the original Alice she acts like a know-it-all, and is somewhat rude. I enjoyed reading this book, but besides the fact that animals where speaking, the Duchess had a huge head, the queen's guards and other workers were a deck of cards, the Cheshire cat, Alice growing larger and growing smaller, the tea party and its guests and that the roses grew in trees, it was a pretty tame story. If I were to read when it was first published in 1865, I am quite sure of myself I would have loved it, but as things go this was not the case. Sadly to say I was born a little more than a century after that date. But 3 stars for a book over a century old is good.



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