fantasy manga

atthequillsmercy

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

(Image Source)

*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.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

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

(Image Source)

*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.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

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

(Image Source)

*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.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

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

(Image Source)

*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.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

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

(Image Source)

*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.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Colette Decides to Die” Vol. 9, by Alto Yukimura

(Image Source)

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

Hedes offers his skeletons the chance to name themselves, while Colette covers at a clinic for a while until another roving healer can take her place.

One of the major plot points is Colette returning to the village where she was born and why she’s the only one left from it. I’m not ashamed to say this volume made me tear up. It’s absolutely tragic and maybe a little triggering for some post-COVID. It really goes to show how strong Colette had to be and still is. It took some doing to climb out of that emotional chasm, but this volume managed to do it and give some fun moments. What an impactful volume. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Colette Decides to Die” Vol. 8, by Alto Yukimura

(Image Source)

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

Since Hades’ mirror has cracked causing a storm, Colette is working at a shelter while it gets repaired.

Aphrodite is in this volume and I dunno how I feel about how she’s represented. She’s got the silly with the serious undercurrent going on, which is a bit predictable. I think I would have liked to see more serious sides of her but she’s ok. I to enjoy how all the dead are just shades, a nice way to depict how in death everyone is equal. Baby Lord Chronos can get annoying when he’s throwing his tantrums but when he’s joined with the cast, he’s much better. The series still shines when Colette is being an amazing apothecary. Even being so skilled, she is still learning and I enjoy those parts the best. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Mao” Vol. 25, by Rumiko Takahashi

(Image Source)

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

The Bronze Mirror is causing havoc and when Mao and Nanoka go to fix it, Shiranui comes to claim the cursed item for the Goku Clan. When Daigo appears to aid in an assault against Shiranui, his motives are uncertain.

Off topic, the name Shiranui unlocked a core memory of wearing out this VHS as a teen. I think I still have it somewhere…

None of this went how I thought it would and that’s what I love about it. Even the supposed villain of the week stories are woven in to the larger story about the Goku Clan, Byokki, and all the interpersonal things going in. And it’s done in a way that I’m not confused about all the intrigue. It may sound silly at 25 volumes deep but I am SO invested in this story! 5 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Choujin X” Vol. 13, by Sui Ishida

(Image Source)

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

The Yamato Mori is in the upper level of the Tower of Mourning to eliminate Zora. When Zora makes an offer to go with the Yamato Mori, Batista has other plans.

Batista going berserk lets us go into his past and what happened to him to put him in this position. It’s a fairly classic tragic backstory. As that takes up a good portion of this, the battle against him isn’t concluded yet. The reality and time warping powers are amazing to see. You can tell it took a LOT of talent to make it look so overwhelming and off-putting. Very good volume. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Magical Girl Dandelion” Vol. 3, by Kaeru Mizuho

(Image Source)

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

While Tanpopo and Peony are on a mission to protect Peony’s friend, Karakusa, Ice goes to great lengths to get back his old friend, Shade.

Prima and Stella are frightening. They have some amazing character designs. There isn’t much down time in this volume. Once Peony asks Tanpopo to help with Karakusa, the fiends show up and the action goes full throttle. I’m not happy about the cliffhanger but other than that, this was a lot of fun. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.