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Tag Archives: Book Reviews

Lenni Reviews: “Courageous Love” by K. C. Richardson.

12 Saturday Aug 2017

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*This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Alex Taylor and Francesca “Frank” Greco didn’t meet under the best of circumstances. Frank pulled Alex over for speeding and talking on her cell phone but they meet up again at a party that same day. Despite this initial stumble, they can’t deny the attraction is there between them. As they pursue a relationship, Alex is suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer and Frank has to decide if she is willing to watch another woman she loves wilt to the disease; like her twin sister, Toni.

This book breaks Fiction 101’s most important rule: show, don’t tell. Not a single emotion this book tries to evoke ever manifest. At 70%, all I felt was annoyed there was more to read. Everything is set in front of you in such a dry, wooden way, I felt as if I was reading a detailed outline. The characters were flat caricatures and it really, REALLY bothered me to have a complete bitch/saint dynamic in Alex and Frank (respectively) where a person with cancer and struggling with treatment is portrayed in the book as a bitch for going through a wide range of emotions. Despite those emotions coming through in as monotone a way a possible.

And after all the delicious prose in Rainbow Gap, I was doubly disappointed. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Devils’ Line” vol 6 by Ryo Hanada

10 Thursday Aug 2017

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The new guy, Ishimaru, is working on getting Zero Seven and Zero Nine to join up with Anzai and his group in exchange for information on Kikuhara. Zero Seven only agrees if he will exchange for details about the devil who killed her mother. But with the existence of devils now public knowledge, tensions are high and man known for advocating devil rights has a ‘mysterious’ house fire. When Anzai arrives at the scene, Kikuhara needles Anzai about his lost memories.

Zero Seven’s backstory is messed up and I still get this feeling that anyone who tells her about the devil that murdered her mother won’t be telling the whole truth; much like how everyone keeps dancing around what Anzai can’t remember about his childhood. I hope these reveals turn out to be worth is in the long run since there’s so much build up. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Great Divide” by Ben Fisher and Adam Markiewicz

08 Tuesday Aug 2017

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

*This review is cross-posted at Otakus and Geeks

A fragmented human race struggles to live because a mysterious condition has made it so any skin to skin contact will cause one of those people to die an agonizing death. Whoever survives the encounter absorbs the memories of the dead person. While fumbling a heist, Maria and Paul stumble first upon each other then later upon a possible cure.

This comic is a mix of Walking Dead, Crossed, and Y the Last Man (without what made me so uncomfortable about Crossed). It has a unique take on an apocalyptic world with all the darkness that entails while still managing to maintain some humor. I’m glad it’s not zombies for once…

The characters and world building here are well thought out and some really original implications of whatever sort of virus like this can do or be used are played with. Thankfully the cast members we’re following around play off each other well despite the fact Paul’s jokes can get tiresome. I give this a 4 out of 5 for being blessedly original in a genre that sorely needs it.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbow Gap” by Lee Lynch

07 Monday Aug 2017

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*This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

*This review is cross-posted to Otakus and Geeks.

This sweeping novel follows Jaudon Vicker and Berry Garland’s relationship over the course of 15 years. Set in Florida during the 1950’s and 1960’s, the book starts from their childhood when the classically girly girl Berry protects the boyish Jaudon from bullying classmates. We are along on their journey through college, Vietnam, even the budding LGBT community all while they stay bonded in a deep and powerful relationship.

You can feel in every word how much love was put into this book. The setting is real enough that you feel transported back in time and the level of detail becomes hypnotic. However, this book also gets bogged down in those details and the actual story slows to a crawl. When the plot moves, dear gods this book is beautiful. Otherwise, you feel every inch of those 342 pages. It’s worth it though to get the full impact of Jaudon and Berry’s journey. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Smokin’ Parade” vol 1 by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou

04 Friday Aug 2017

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Youkou lives in a world where if a person gets cybernetic limb transplants, they run a risk of turning into a mindless killer called a Spider as a possible side effect. He has spent most of his time caring for his sister, who lost both her legs, and he learns the hard way how bad such a transformation can be. When his sister goes insane, a group calling themselves the Jackalopes come to save him.

I learned after reading this that Kataoka is the creator of Deadman Wonderland, which explains the creepy-cute and gory style. Our main villain, Kurama, seems over the top for me right now. GIANT breasts, bathing in human viscera… She might as well have “I’m Evil” tattooed on her massive chest. If gore isn’t your thing, you will not like this manga but so far I do like the characters and I want to know more about how the limbs are making people insane. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Lady Mechanika: La Dama de la Muerte” by Joe Benitez and M. M. Chen

03 Thursday Aug 2017

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated Mature for violence.

In this steampunk world, Lady Mechanika travels to a village called Santa Catrina and happens to arrive just in time for the Dia de Los Muertos festival. But when the Demon Riders come to the village demanding their tithe, Mechnika mounds up to stop them.

This story is my first experience with Lady Mechanika and despite it being super dark (there’s a high body count) Mechanika is an awesome character. The cynic in me says this entire side story is just an excuse to put the character in Day of the Dead makeup, however, I am totally ok with it because the art is fucking amazing! Spectacular line and color work, dynamic layouts; dear gods half the panels could be posters!

The story itself is pretty standard: a small village with robbers and such but it is so damn gorgeous, you don’t mind seeing it all again. A near perfect read, I give this a 4 out of 5 because there are some plot points dropped here that require reading the main series.

The release date for this book is currently September 26th, 2017.

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Lenni Reviews: “Happiness” vol 5 by Shuzo Oshimi

02 Wednesday Aug 2017

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Yuuki has left a trail of bodies in his wake and despite Nora’s best efforts, both she and Makoto are captured. Yukiko is still desperately searching for answers with Sakurane.

By the end of this volume, ten years have gone by and the only character we are certain is still alive is Yukiko; which is fine by me since she is my favorite.

I do have to take a moment to talk about the art in this volume. I’m also in the midst of reading Ajin and Tokyo Ghoul so when we get to the obligatory ‘experiment on the creature’ scene in Happiness, I love the different route of making the images trippy, twisted, and distorted. It’s exactly the sort of art I’ve come to adore from Oshimi. It’s very creative and creepy because we know that distortion is Makoto’s pain. Excellent. 4.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Conflict Management” by Rachel White

31 Monday Jul 2017

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

*This review is cross-posted at Otakus and Geeks.

When Morgan’s boss, Lawrence, makes a pass at him one too many time, Morgan tells him he will sue Law if he doesn’t knock it off. Law obliges and Morgan can finally have normal workdays. That is until Law’s brother ends up in the hospital after a suicide attempt, Morgan learns his boss is more than just a former creeper. As they get more friendly, Law’s pet project – a merger with another company – has major problems and Morgan may have to be the whistle blower that costs Law his job.

Morgan and Law are so delightfully awkward, I found myself identifying with them right away. White doesn’t make her characters overly perfect or overly evil; as evidenced my Morgan’s ill-fated relationship with Harvey and the way Law’s brother Christopher’s schizophrenia is handled. Racism and mental illness can be tricky to include without being preachy or over-exaggerated to the point of ridiculousness. The realistic way the characters are presented made reading through this book enjoyable.

Since the romance takes its time, this is not a book peppered with sex scenes. The focus is more on Morgan and Law’s feelings for each other and how the mess going on in the company impacts their professional and private relationships. The smut IS there so this book earns its 18+ status.

My only real gripe would be with Morgan’s roommate, Anita. She’s the only character who came off cartoonish to me. Luckily she isn’t as distracting as a character like that can get. She says her spiel then the plot resumes.

Without blithering on further, I enjoyed the premise and the slow burn romance. I give it a solid 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Britannia” by Peter Milligan, Juan Jose Ryp, Frankie D’Armata

29 Saturday Jul 2017

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*This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated mature for violence

After losing his mind, Antonius Axia had his mind rebuilt by the Vestal Virgins who gifted him with fantastic deductive abilities. So when the sons of Rome’s elite are found gruesomely murdered and the Vestal Virgins are suspected of the crimes, their Chief Vestal Rubria calls upon Detectioner Antonius to solve the mystery before Emperor Nero has the Vestal Virgins killed. At the same time, a captivating female gladiator named Achilla is close to winning her freedom by dominating in the coliseum and she knows something about what people now believe is a curse on Rome.

Despite feeling rushed, this wasn’t a bad read. I liked the mystery, the setting is impressive, and the characters are fun but I don’t feel all those things don’t get enough time to develop and become more memorable. Nero has issues with Rubira, Achillia has history with some rich guy, Antonius is estranged from his son then suddenly not anymore… All of this flies by so fast, it’s difficult to get invested. The art is amazing to look at but I think this should have been longer. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Higurashi: When They Cry” vol 26 by Ryukishi07 and Karin Suzuragi

27 Thursday Jul 2017

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Oh, you thought this story was over? Apparently not…

Rika has an accident and wakes up in an alternate timeline where there is no Hinamizawa Syndrome and the dam project was approved so the town will become a lake. Her friends are now virtual strangers and her parents are still alive. Rika must find the secret in this world and destroy it so she can get back to her preferred fragment.

This feels like a What If story rather than something that fits in with the overall story. It is an interesting way to see how the characters would have been different if they didn’t have to go through all the terrible things they did in the main story. Rika’s choice boils down to who’s happiness is more important; her own or her friends in that alternate world. This volume got a little preachy but not enough to put me off or derail the story. For what it is, it’s a decent diversion. But can this series be done now, please? 3.5 out of 5.

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