dystopian

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Lenni Reviews: “Lynx” Vol. 1, by Samuel Sattin & Tokitokoro

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

After a climate disaster known as The Regression, humanity is stuck in a perpetual winter. Detective Lynx Takuma and her enhanced cat partner Skua, have investigating a series of deaths where strange feathers were found at the scene.

While this throws a lot of lore and abilities and backstories at you, it feels a bit flat. I think it’s because a lot of the backgrounds are solid whites. But it is a winter dystopia so I can’t judge it too hard for that. I do love a hard boiled lesbian detective with cool powers and a weird mystery brewing in a complicated world. I think it’s pretty cool so far! 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Alice in Borderland Retry” by Haro Aso

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Ryohei is a clinical psychologist working as a school counselor. He’s married to Yuzuha and they are expecting their first child. When everything seems perfect, Ryohei is thrown into Borderland once again after a tragic accident.

This is an interesting way to try and return to this concept and see our main character again but I think I would have loved to dive into why people are thrust into a death game after accidents or why Ryohei in particular has the type of mind to gravitate to death games when under duress. It was cool to read but unless you’re a big fan and are dying to read more from this universe (or complete your collection), I’m not sure you have to grab this one. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Fool Night” Vol. 9, by Kasumi Yasuda

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

The search continues for Dr. Kudai, revealing differing alliances and serious threats.

Most of this is Yomiko trying to find Kidai and all the intrigue and espionage around it. They want to find out who did the procedure on Toshiro so it’s a lot of talking and much slower than all the previous stuff about Ivy. It’s not bad but all the action in the previous volumes set a tone that shifts so differently here. It’s interesting but it’s clearly setting things up to be exposed later so I’ll have to be patient. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Mujina Into the Deep” Vol. 4 by Inio Asano

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is suggested for mature readers.

With Terumi in the hospital, Ubume is out for revenge.

Yeah, this expression is the only real response to Tenko.

Now we learn more about Ubume, and it’s not the book’s fault that it’s a bit on the nose to current events. (spoiler)

A lot of stories have the sooper seekrit experiment conspiracy, so… Now what? Is the endgame to expose all this and reinstate the mujina as actual people so anyone faces consequences? Will there be any antidote for whatever they’re being doped with? I’m enjoying the series but I’d rather more plot than watch Tenko fuck some random dude and say weird shit. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Fool Night” Vol. 7, by Kasumi Yasuda

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Toshiro and Hourai face Ivy and learn who Ivy was as a human, challenging Hourai’s firm belief in transfloration.

I am negative shocked that the doctor behind all this is a freakish mad scientist type. I do have to give credit to the creativity in this volume when it comes to the combat with Ivy and how Toshiro is able to see the thoughts of a transflorated person. Even though his life is shortened, he is determined to make a difference, and I do want to see what other things he can do and if these abilities will impact how or if transforation goes forward in the future. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Mujina into the Deep” Vol. 3, by Inio Asano

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is suggested for mature readers.

Mai and Tenko face off, and we learn more about Ubeme. Juno is thinking of becoming a Mujina to escape the 9-5.

It’s sad that people care so little that it takes three months for a Mujina to be located after being killed. Yes, I get that they’re no longer legally people, but sheesh… It looks like there’s a big plot point here that has to deal with Ubeme’s past, as she was trafficked as a minor by a prostitution ring that was broken a long time ago, yet still being investigated. On top of that, it’s implied she’s losing her edge because she’s too attached to other people. That’s a pretty standard trope, but if it means that it wouldn’t take three months to find out if something happened to her, then go for it. She’s an awesome fighter, and seeing her in action is amazing. It’s a shame there wasn’t more of that from her in this volume. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Fist of the North Star” Vol. 18, by Buronson & Tetsuo Hara

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

In this volume, Ken faces Emperor Balan, who despises the gods due to his lost love. Then Ken searches for Rin and Bat and after Ken loses his memories, they have to help him.

This really feels like the conflict doesn’t start or actually matter until the main character gets there to fix it. He’s more of a catalyst for the plot to happen rather than feeling like we’re following him on a journey. And Ken is so overpowered, he just punches through or wags his finger at the enemy, and then it’s over. I feel like I know his story, but I don’t know who he is, if that makes any sense. The people around him are more interesting to me as they seem to grow and change, while Ken is pretty much the same. It’s okay I just expected more from such a classic. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Fist of the North Star” Vol. 17, by Buronson

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Ken and Ryu arrive in Sava where 3 brothers squabble for the throne of their dying father, King Asam.

While after the 3 brother’s drama there is another story, the stand out here is King Asam. Unlike a lot of the rulers and/or in this series, he’s powerful, empathetic, and loving instead of comically evil. I wouldn’t mind a side series just about him. I’m a little annoyed that his daughter doesn’t get more regocnition as she’d the one child of his that seems to care about him (at first) and – absolutely spoilers for this volume and the movie – this story suffers from the Four Brothers problem (where I was pissed that one of them died leaving only three brothers). You’d expect the life lesson of them working things out between them but nope. They just fight and kill. It felt like a chance for a good story there. 3 out of 5.

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Patreon Update! “Dewey” Chaper 2

I’ve been hard at work on my writing and the next part of “Dewey” is ready to share! Head on over to my Patreon where it’s only 1$ to join!

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Lenni Reviews: “After God” Vol. 3, by Sumi Eno

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Just as Waka learns what god is inside her (Alura), things change when a mission ends in the deaths of several Institute members. In the chaos, a traitor is revealed.

This is a very twisty volume and by that I mean it has a bunch of twists in it. Not to spoil anything but there’s a lot of “this guy is really working for THIS guy” and “this guy is disguised as THIS guy” or this guy is dead, NOPE he’s not!” It’s not bad; it feels fast-paced and dripping with dramatic intrigue. If you’ve been waiting for a bunch of lore about Waka and Alura, that takes a back seat for a bit but it’s still action-packed. 4 out of 5.

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