manga review

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Scattering His Virgin Bloom” Vol. 2, by Aya Sakyo

(Image Source)

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

Despite helping with Hana’s heat, Kaoru still hesitates to take him on as his mate. Kaoru’s sister, Marika as well as Hana’s brother Aoba, come into the picture to interfere in their budding relationship.

This was okay, but I feel like a bunch of stuff was set up and not followed through. The stuff with the siblings was not really an issue. Hana’s mother tries to set him up with a guy who’s a creep, yet is also involved with the coffee brand Hana works for. There were some really interesting ways for the plot to go, but we just get some smut and a shrug at the conflict before we get our happy ending. I don’t dislike it, but I gotta give it a 3 out of 5 for what could have been.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Hima-Ten!” Vol. 3, by Genki Ono

(Image Source)

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

Tenichi goes to Kanna’s place to clean and he ends up going shopping with Himari and Kanna. There is also the school camping trip.

This is cute but I’m hoping this doesn’t turn into a harem manga. Tenichi is just a decent dude and it’d be a shame that just being decent would be enough to have ALL the girls fawning over him. But, it is nice to see Himari and Kanna’s relationship. They’re co-workers in a way and have the common situation of being driven in their careers (even tough it’s still damn creepy for a teenager to be a pinup model). They seem to be in a civil and supportive relationship and I’d be happy to see that explored more. 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Vagabond Definitive Edition” Vol. 7, by Takehiko Inoue

(Image Source)

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

After the Battle of Sekihagara, Kojiro and the other soldiers are hounded by refugee hunters.

We spend a lot of time with Kojiro and I guess I just don’t have the warrior’s spirit because the entire part with him, I just kept thinking “What a waste of human life.” Even the other fleeing samurai cut each other down while the hunters are after them. I didn’t find it thrilling, it just made me sad. The art is amazing, and we do get back to Musashi for the latter part, but yeah. I just couldn’t shake that initial sorrow. 3.5 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Firefly Wedding” Vol. 8, by Oreco Tachibana

(Image Source)

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

Satoko’s father lands on Goddess Island with the Kirigaya family soldiers to eliminate Shinpei and exposes the true reason she ended up on that island.

Even though Kotaro got his side of the story, this volume spends most of it’s time really hammering home how hopeless Satoko’s situation is. Her mother sucks, her father sucks, her sister sucks, and her health sucks. It does try to give her sister one decent deed to even her out, but she’s still a dick. How shitty to things have to be for a methodical, ruthless killer to be the best person in your life? Because Shinpei isn’t going to give up on Satoko even it she’s off that island. 4 out of 5.

 

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “The Seaside Where Dragon Boys Dwell” Vol. 1, by Asato Shima

(Image Source)

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

After her father’s death, Mizuka moves in with her uncle to a town know for Dragon Folk. Her uncle has another boy boarding with him, a Dragon Born named Tenshin and despite her cheerful efforts. he remains aloof and cold.

This is really about two outsiders finding a place where they can be comfortable together. We have a bit of lore about the dragon children but the core of this is Mizuka and Tenshin becoming a little found family with her uncle, Yoshinaru, who is a goofy, well meaning scientist. The art is beautiful and creative in the way it shows the dragon transformations and how they fit into the modern world. It’s sweet so far and I look forward to see what else is explored here. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Horror Picture Book: A Bad Book” by Miyuki Miyabe & Hisanori Yoshida

(Image Source)

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

A Book of Bad Things tempts a young girl to open its pages.

Out of the three, this one is the least scary. They all have fantastic art:

But this book leans more into “creepy cute” than scary. Also, I can’t really see these as more than a seasonal coffee table set rather than something I’d return to and read over and over. They all would make for gorgeous displays or collectables. 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Boy’s Abyss” Vol. 15, by Ryo Minenami

(Image Source)

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

Reiji finds a sickly Chako armed with a knife and ready to jump off a bridge after she’d run away from home. After he talks her down, the pair of them run into some unexpected help.

Fucking FINALLY, some halfway decent adults are involved: Saki (Esemori’s ex) and Detective Ishibashi. But of course, this couldn’t last because despair is the name of the game in this series. Reiji, I believe, not only does he not want help; he feels he doesn’t deserve it. So, when it’s on a platter in front of him, he won’t take it.

Understatement of the year there, detective. 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Horror Picture Book: Looking at Me” by Soshichi Tonari & Junji Ito

(Image Source)

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

A young boy sees faces in everything. When he tries to tell his parents, they take notice of him.

I mean… When you involve Junji Ito, you’re gonna get some creepy imagery. One thing I like about this is the slow escalation. The faces are subtle at first, but they get more prominent as the story goes on. It’s all pretty menacing except for this guy:

He made me laugh, so he’s alright. 3 out of 5

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Horror Picture Book: Is It There or Not” by Natsuhiko Kyogoku & Naoko Machida

(Image Source)

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

A young boy moves in with his grandmother and starts seeing scary things in her old house.

The art is beautiful but it’s exactly what it says on the tin: a picture book. So other than how lovely it is and how amusingly unhelpful the grandmother is,

there isnt much to say about the plot or the characters. Its unsettling but not really scary. 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Marriage Toxin” Vol. 15, by Joumyaku & Mizuki Yoda

(Image Source)

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

Ureshino asks Gero for help with her company, which reveals a terrifying enemy: The Puppet Master, someone Gero already knows.

The business part takes up a lot of time, but it sets up the reveal of this nightmare:

Who also gives us some kid Gero flashbacks. The last couple of volumes have really gone in heavy on a grander mystery behind all the marriage talk, and while I don’t need this series to get super serious, it’s interesting. And if it keeps being this good, I have no problem going with the flow. 3.9 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.