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Lenni Reviews: “Centaurs” Vol. 3, by Ryo Sumiyoshi

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

The war between centaurs and humans has ended, leading them to living side by side. But peace does not heal all wounds as Ganta cannot forgive the loss of his father, while Tanikaze – who has never experienced oppression, wants to befriend humans.

This volume does a great job at showing that just because a war is over doesn’t mean the hurt is gone. Ganta is dealing with understandable PTSD and finds Tanikaze’s curiosity dangerous. It FLIES through everything. I like the series but the pacing is too fast. Almost like it’s a race. I think this would be so much better if it took its time. This world is interesting and I think it deserves room to let it breathe. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Centaurs” Vol. 2, by Ryo Sumiyoshi

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

After escaping, Matsukaze and Kohibari continue to search for a peaceful place to live and for Matsukaze’s son. But the group sent by Kohibari’s owner catches up to them and they are saved by an army of centaur orphans.

The 30 year time jump was a bit abrupt, but I get it. This volume is PACKED with plot, battles, touching moments, and dark elements. It’s very bittersweet but I like that cumulative horrors from the first volume are balanced with the happier moments. Spoilers I guess but by the end of this one Matsukaze’s son Ganta is grown and Kohibari’s son, Tanikaze, is on the cusp of adulthood as well. See what I mean about a huge time jump? It’s an engrossing read but really fast. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Centaurs” Vol. 1, by Ryo Sumiyoshi

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

Where centaurs were once revered as gods, now they are enslaved by humans. Matsukaze had managed to evade them until he is captured while protecting his son from human hunters. While in captivity, he meets Kohibari, who has been mutilated and tamed yet hopes Matsukaze will be his ticket to freedom.

I label this as for mature readers because of how horridly the centaurs are treated because of course weird dudes rape them. Ew, but sadly not surprising. And it’s a common practice to cut the centaur’s arms off to break them! Ugh, people just suck… While the pacing feels a bit fast, it’s beautiful and heartbreaking. It’s worth checking out if you can handle the brutality and like darker fantasy. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “May I Have a Taste?” Vol. 3, by Amidamuku

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

Now that Mei, a Progenitor Vampire, appears on the scene, Yamadera wishes to use her. When he blurts out his desire to become a vampire, he foolishly makes a contract with her.

After the deal is struck, this volume gets a little silly as Sayo tries to find a way to save Yamadera, blundering into getting a job as a host. And there are a few flashbacks to Yamdera as a child with some implications as to how he became such a manipulative bastard with a suicidal desire for power. Just aa taste, so I’m sure it’ll be explored more down the road. I like where this is going so far! 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “May I Have a Taste?” Vol. 2, by Amidamuku

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

Minoru is gravely injured trying to save Yamadera after he risks his life trying to become a vampire. An older vampire, Mire, comes to assist Minoru.

I like that the world is expanding. I don’t like Yamadera, so spending time with any other character is a net positive. We do get some backstory for Mine, another new vampire, Itachi, and introduce Mei, who reminds me of Kiku from Call of the Night. I’m glad what seemed to be a predatory version of Ko annoying Minoru, who just wants to live his life, is shaping into something more. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Champion of the Rose” Vol. 1, by Cat Aquino & Dominique Duran

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

Princess Rosa’s brother tragically dies, making her hair to the throne of the Empire of Sagrada. As the largest kingdom in the Known World, Rosa looks forward to serving her people and the Dying God they all worship but instead, her father holds a tournament where the prize is her hand in marriage. Desperate to become queen and make real change, she enlists Rey as her champion. Rey is a swordsman from one of the kingdom’s colonies and only wants to earn enough money to return to his native lands.

It’s interesting that Rosa is a mixed-race princess of a kingdom fueled by colonizing others. She has to come to terms with what her kingdom has done to people who look just like her. She may have been relatively sheltered as a princess, but that doesn’t stop the whispers and judgment. Rey is a transman and a fucking badass, who literally and figuratively is infected by the evils done by those who’ve conquered his people. The combat is fantastically done. It’s ruthless and dark. It reminds me of Centuria, making this a damn good dark fantasy. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Heroes” 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.

After defeating the Great Darkness, our group of heroes begin their journey home only to face the fact that the darkness is not something to be contained.

This reminds me of the Big City Greens episode: Montaged, only this is DEEPLY disturbing and sad. Trigger warning for SA of a child – implied, not graphic. It starts off silly:

Since those character names did get a chuckle out of me. But then it descends into death and pain. I felt unsettled by the end, which is likely the point given the quote in this book:

Have something upbeat to read after this. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Mao” Vol. 26, by Rumiko Takahashi

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

After Nanoka is abducted by Soma, she is forced to face him alone. Afterwards, Mao investigates a series of assaults by what witnesses say looks like a rat, leading him and Huakka locked in battle with Habuki and Sasuga.

The action is well balanced with the story progression in this volume. We’re getting more bits of lore and some great fight scenes with creative uses of the character’s powers. Takahashi has a great talent for giving this ensemble cast a fairly even amount of “screen time” and making it count. This is also less ‘monster of the week’ in format because everything ties back into the Goku Clan’s machinations. Very cool. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Kagurabachi” Vol. 9, by Takeru Hokazono

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

After Iori regains her memories, her father shows up, and Chihiro has to trust him to protect her while he faces a power that turns the hotel and everyone in it into a weapon.

Hakuri is at Kamunabi and gets a bit of “screen” time, but the main fight is Chihiro vs. Samura Seiichi, and it is pretty cool. There’s a lot of talking, and since Irori is there, Seiichi has to really think about his goal of eliminating sword bearers and fighting putting her in danger. I wish Hakuri had more to do, but this isn’t really about him. Seiichi is the main threat. It’s a fun and action-packed volume with a lot of heads flying off. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Centuria” Vol. 4, by Tohru Kuramori

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

Flying into a rage after Angvall’s death, Julian unleashes his power on Argos without thinking of the toll it would take on his body.

This volume also introduces The Supreme Lord (Argos’ father) and adds witches to those with special abilities. Clearly, Oracle Elstri has never heard of any stories where someone goes barreling toward their destiny while trying to avoid it because she is dead set on killing a child to prevent her prophecy. This makes her an interesting villain since she’s less of a zealot than her lord, who has some nuance to him. You’d expect the reverse. This is a cool world, and I can’t wait for this journey to continue. 4 out of 5.

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