review books

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Lenni Reviews: “Everything Is OK” by Debbie Tung

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. Trigger warning for anxiety and depression.

This graphic novel is an exploration of how the author recognized their mental illness and her work in dealing with them so she can start to love herself.

The simple art style packs a real punch when expressing the feelings and thoughts of the author and I found it all very relatable and easy to understand. It has an overall positive message without sounding preachy. It also stresses that dealing with mental illness is not a linear process. A great read if you’re struggling and need some hope or if someone in your life is facing similar issues. 5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Gigant” Vol 7, by Hiroya Oku

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After it’s leaked that Chiho was in a relationship with a high schooler, they decide to end things so Rei can be a normal teenager while Chiho withdrew from public life. However, a group of time travelers appear in her apartment who want her help saving humanity.

Finally we find out what the ETE is, how it came to be, and who the weirdos in their underwear are. It’s ok reasoning but the majority of this volume is the set up for the battle against “Satan” who’s destroyed most of the U.S. at this point. I thought the time travelers were going to be an American team that were gonna get overwhelmed and ask Chiho to come help but this is alright. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible” Vol. 3, by Nene Yukimori


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

In this volume, Shiraishi catches a cold and has to stay home from school. As usual, nobody notices but Kubo, who comes by to take care of him.

It’s clear Shiraishi is only kinda clueless about the clear feelings developing between him and Kubo. It’s cute when they spend time together and Kubo may still tease him but she’s not cruel about it. She’s giving Shiraishi a chance to enjoy himself instead of just floating through life without anybody seeing him. I like that progression but where could this go in the next volumes. I hope it stays light hearted and sweet. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Ghost Reaper Girl” Vol. 2, by Akissa Saiké

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

While Chloe seems to become an official reaper to help contain escaped souls, Nyarlathotep has some ulterior motives and plans working behind the scenes. As she adjusts to her new role, we meet other hunters including a necromancer with a deadly reanimated assistant.

The art is fantastic in the battle scenes. It’s easy to know what’s going on and exciting. Chloe is just the right mix of irreverent and serious when facing these scary spirits. With stories like this, the main character can be flat and angsty or too silly for the situation but Chloe has a good balance and natural reactions to all the crazy stuff she deals with now. This volume also rounds out the main cast and hits at the larger threat to come. I can see this shaping up to be a cool series. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Call of the Night” Vol. 9, by Kotoyama

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

The secret we’ve been building up to in Nazuna’s past puts all vampire kind in danger as Uguisu sets her sights on killing Nazuna and her vampire friends and Ko as well.

I have to say Uguisu’s backstory and her dealings with vampires was not what I expected it to be but it’s interesting. It fits in well with the unique way vampires function in this universe. It presents a problem that makes me wonder if the solution will be satisfying to the plot. Uguisu is set on killing all the vampires and doesn’t fear putting crazy stunts in crowds of people. We’ll have to see what Nazuna decides to do in the next volume because all this exposure is clearly not a good thing. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Yakuza Lover” Vol. 6, by Nozomi Mino

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

In this volume, Choko makes one final desperate attempt to have Oya for herself and a childhood friend of Yuri’s reappears in her life and is now a police officer.

This volume gives another drop of the complications of dating a yakuza by bringing in a cop and I don’t know why I’d forgotten Yuri’s been trying to keep this relationship a secret but Jin (the cop) is probably gonna blab. He doesn’t seem like Oya’s threats would work for long. I hope this is finally something that brings in an interesting conflict that isn’t instantly solved. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Komi Can’t Communicate” Vol. 20, by Tomohito Oda

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

Komi’s, Tadano, and their friends go on a skiing trip but unforeseen events, Tadano and Manbagi get left behind at a rest stop and have no place to stay. They end up at a hotel with only one bed available. There is also a story to parallel this where Komi’s parents as teenagers go on a ski trip.

Although the premise implies a bunch of awkward romantic shenanigans, this volume keeps it’s lighthearted, almost too pure for this world tone. It may not be believable for everyone to be so nice all the time but it works so well here and I’d like it to stay that way. I don’t want this series to end up drowning in too much angst. It’s like a precious innocent that needs to be protected. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Gigant” Vol. 4, by Hiroya Oku

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With Chiho in prison, more monsters rage through the city, killing thousands. Rei and his family are almost inured to it, waiting to go about their lives once the Self Defense Forces to mop up after they release Chiho to kill the creatures. But the threat escalates, leaving Chiho struggling in her efforts to defeat them.

First off, as a well endowed woman myself, seeing Chiho run around without a bra makes my chest hurt in sympathy.

There’s a good bit of action in this volume and we’re moving towards Chiho becoming a hero that works for the government. We don’t learn much more about anyone, least of all Chiho but fanservice aside, she’s brave and strong. I like following her through this madness. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Perfect World” Vol. 6, by Rei Aruga

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After Itsuki turns down the job to make a barrier free home for Keigo and Kaede, Tsugumi heads back to Tokyo to find out why he would do that and hopefully change his mind.

While Istuki and Tsugumi are inevitably going to get back together (c’mon, this isn’t spoilers, they’re on the cover of every volume) they seem to be working well together on this big project. A little too well. Granted, I’m not expecting batshit fireworks and table flipping like a telenovela but with so many conflicting feelings, something’s gotta give. And when it does, it’s gonna feel lazy if it’s too neat and clean. 4.8 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “The Bloodprint” by Ausma Zehanat Khan

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A dangerous extremist group called the Talisman, led by a cruel man named The One-eyed Preacher is sweeping across the land enslaving women and destroying manuscripts. In an attempt to oppose them Arian and her apprentice, Sinnia who are Companions of Hira, intercept their raids using their magic abilities they call the Claim. But individual raids are a drop in the bucket so Arian journeys to find an artifact called The Bloodprint; a Claim so powerful, it was hidden away. Going after The Bloodprint means heading into Talisman territory and they may die before they can try to save the world.

While the concept is interesting and main story is cool to read, there are so many parts where things just slowed to a crawl. The writing is beautiful, the world is alive and robust, it covers some important themes like women’s rights and how important knowledge is in the face of ignorance but sometimes this felt like it got bogged down into too many details. Worldbuilding is important but those parts were dry compared to everything around it. I was skimming those parts to get back to the main story; which ends on one of the most frustrating cliffhangers I’ve read in a LONG time. I managed to put my hands on the sequel right when I finished this book but I’d be pissed if I had to wait so long with that much of a drop. 3 out of 5.

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