Manga Monday: Black Butler Vol. 10

  Welcome to Manga Monday! Manga Monday is a meme hosted by Alison over at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers.This past weekend I was able to check up on the super popular Black Butler manga series.

Description: With his royally sanctioned dinner party a shambles and a murderer on the loose, Earl Ciel Phantomhive is a veritable prisoner in his own home, alongside those of his guests who still live. And in the most shocking of turns, the young earl now finds himself without his indispensible manservant, Sebastian. But as the mystery deepens, there arrives upon the young earl's doorstep an odd vicar, wearing an insolent smile and an Inverness cape that flaps and splashes behind him... Is this mysterious thirteenth guest the perpetrator of the crimes that have bloodied the halls of Phantomhive Manor?

Review: Black Butler, Vol. 10 continues with the murder mystery plot set-up from the last volume and paying homage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As a big fan of Sherlock Holmes, I found this volume extremely enjoyable. Toboso captures the attention to details and the scientific process that Sherlock uses to solve his mysteries. As we follow the clues and members of the Phantomhive Manor, the suspense and intricate artwork enhances the enjoyment of reading.
  While I was not surprised twist at the end of the story, I'm not convinced on how the mystery was solved. I detect that Ciel has something up his arms. Sebastian is a very complex character. On the one hand, he is terrifying when you know his real identity, but his human characteristics of being a perfectionist at his work as a butler and love for cats always manage to make laugh every time. I'm very excited to see what is the next plot arc for this series.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and some crude sexual humor. Recommended for older teens.

If you like this book try: Black Butler Vol. 11 by Yana Toboso, Pandora Hearts by Jun Mochizuki, Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato

Manga Monday: Black Butler Vol. 9

  Welcome to Manga Monday! Manga Monday is a meme hosted by Alison over at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers.This past weekend I was able to check up on the super popular Black Butler manga series.

Description (from the back of the book): Earl Ciel Phantomhive's quietude is interrupted as Queen Victoria's very own butlers commandeer Phantomhive Manor for a lavish banquet sanctioned by Her Majesty Preparations for such an event are quick work in the hands of Sebastian, the house's most able butler, but corralling the eminent guests may prove to be rather more of a challenge. For this dinner party is anything but festive, and as a stormy night batters the outside of the grand residence, a far more violent storm beings to unfurl within. And no one is safe from the havoc it will wreak-not even one seemingly impervious manserverant...

Review: There has been many story arcs in the Black Butler manga series, some serious, some silly, and some very creepy. With the disturbing and sinister circus arc behind us, Black Butler, Vol. 9 offers us a different and delightful surprise with a murder mystery with the likes of Clue. 
  On a dark and stormy night, Ciel is hosting a grand banquet at the Phantomhive manor. After the guests enjoy their food and drinks and are ready to retire for the evening, terror strikes as one of the guests is found murdered in his room. Within a few hours apart, two other shocking murdered victims are discovered. Trapped in the manor, every one is a suspect and the murderer is at large!
  I love when the mangaka weaves a real historical figure into the storyline. One of the notable guests is Arthur as in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. Toboso does a nice touch in paying homage to the great detective. Arthur is depicted as a novelist who is just starting, therefore he gets flustered too quickly when all the clues don't exactly line up. Arthur definitely added humor and irony which makes this series shine for me. 
  Though there is a plot twist at the end of this volume, I didn't bite the bait. I'm just waiting to see if my theories are correct when I start the next volume. The depth of these stories partnered with the beautiful artwork is truly wonderful. I could actually visualize the loud thunder and bright lightening while reading this volume. Toboso has a great eye for details which shows in the artwork.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and some crude sexual humor. Recommended for older teens.

If you like this book try: Black Butler Vol. 10 by Yana Toboso, Pandora Hearts by Jun Mochizuki, Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato

Manga Mondays: Boys Over Flowers Vol. 4

Just a quick note: I'm attending my last day of the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago and will be on vacation when this review posts. I may not or may not have internet access during vacation, but I will play catch-up with your blogs and comments when I get back. 

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. The Boys over Flowers manga series has been highly recommended to readers who would like to read a manga that falls in the romantic comedy genre. This series has been a bestselling manga series and is extremely successful with many TV adaptations in Japan as well as in Korea.

Description: Tsukushi realizes that she would have Rui to herself if Shizuka left for France as planned, but she doesn't want to be like the other scheming girls at her school. So she begs Shizuka to stay in Japan for Rui's sake. Domyoji asks Tsukushi for a date at the airport that Shizuka is leaving from, but his sweet words are drowned out by the sound of jets passing by.

Review: As I mentioned in my earlier reviews of this manga series, Boys Over Flowers walks the line between serious and silly. Though it is marketed as a romantic comedy, it does give you food for thought in regards as how cruel we treat one another. 
  Volume 4 picks up right where we left off in volume 3 where Shizuka has made a huge announcement of leaving Japan in pursuit of a modeling career in France and demonstrated how serious she is by chopping off her gorgeous hair in front of a crowd. While her news may not be as much of a shock to us as readers, it opens a big opportunity for our heroine, Tsukushi, who has a huge crush on Rui. Rui hasn't given much attention to Tsukushi because he has been openly shown his interest in Shizuka ever since they were young children. One has to wonder if Shizuka's sudden movement to an entirely different continent is due to Rui's ardent affection for her. Shizuka obviously has feelings for Rui but more in a fraternal kind of way, which is of course what any guy does not want to hear. 
  I really like Shizuka as she doesn't fit into the caricature of a popular, rich, mean girl. She treats Tsukushi very kindly, which is why Tsukushi feels a bit guilty about feeling happy that Shizuka will no longer be competing with her to get Rui. Unlike Shizuka, I couldn't really get a good read on Rui as his personality is a bit standoffish. He is obviously hurt by Shizuka's sudden departure since she is really the only person he truly opened up to.
  What I found to be very interesting is Doyoji's quiet transformation from a rich, dumb, bully to a person who is insecure, vulnerable, and maybe a little bit likable. Though I hate how harshly he treats Tsukushi in the previous volumes, he does have some good moments that make me hesitate in completely writing him off as evil. Unbeknownst to Tsukushi, she does have a big influence on Doyoji's growth as Doyoji tries to understand her in order to win her affections. 

  I have a feeling that the love triangle? rectangle? is only to get messier and a whole lot of drama is going to come our way as the series continues. Normally, I would get annoyed by all of this, but I think this is what makes Boys Over Flowers an enjoyable read. 

  Some of you have asked about the artwork in this manga series. Though it is not the best that I've seen, it does improve with each volume. Doyoji's "Christian Slater hair" (the writer has a big thing for the actor) gets less annoying though I still can't really see the resemblance. There is more concentration of what the characters wear which is an indication of their social status.  

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and sexual innuendo in this volume. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol. 4 by Yoko Kamio, Ouran High School Host Club by Bistco Hatori, Kodocha by Miho Obana, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda

Manga Mondays: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 7

  I haven't participated in Manga Mondays for quite some time due to time constraints. Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers.

Description: The exclusive St. Kleio Academy is in jeopardy. Kai and his following have become terrorists who vow to protect those who remain at the academy. Rockwell, the head of the Academy, calls for Shiro to end his time at the school and move on to his next step: being the ultimate protector of St. Kelo Academy like his his original. What does being protector entail?

Review: Unlike other mangas that I've read, I read a volume of Afterschool Charisma at least twice. that's not to say that I put the volume down or that I become disinterested in it but rather the plot becomes more complicated with each volume. In this volume, we learn that Shiro is a clone of the person who created the St. Kelo Academy. He is caught in the middle of helping his friends by working with the Academy and joining the extreme terrorist group created by Kai.
  When he unexpectedly graduates from the Academy, he is given the huge responsibility to take care of the Academy. The Academy is still very much a mystery. From what Shiro is told, it was the vision that the clones of great and infamous historical figures is to lead society in the right direction. One wonders if that is the real reason or if it's the reason that sounds the best.
  Shiro is now educated by clone Leonardo De Vinci, where he is to learn how to become a leader. Once he arrived, he discovers some surprises such as an older clone Freud and even Marie Curie, who Shiro (and myself) believed to be dead. As Shiro tries to wrap his head around his new surroundings, Kai and the terrorists appear on public television to expose St. Kleio in hopes of getting the public sympathies how the clones are treated.
   Just like other volumes of this series, more questions are raised than answered. How does exposing the St. Kleio Academy help either side? What will become of St. Kleio in the meantime? I guess I have to wait until October to know.


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some sexual innuendo and mature themes. Recommended for older teens and up.

If you like this book try: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 8 by Kumiko Suekane, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Hetalia: Axis Powers by Hidekaz Himaruya, Code Geass by Majiko

Manga Monday: Boys Over Flowers Vol. 3

   Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. The Boys over Flowers manga series totes the line between silly and seriousness and this third volume is a perfect example.


Description: Romantic complications occur when Kazuya, furious about the kiss between Domyoji and Tsukushi, challenges Domyoji to a squid fishing competition. Domyoji starts spreading rumors that Tsukushi is in love with him. When he discovers she's in love with Rui, he goes on a rampage - a rampage that turns into an attack on Tsukushi.

Review: While Boys over Flowers is written as your typical shojo manga, it does address some important social issues such as class conflict and bullying. The comedic moments might seem to allow the underlying serious issues to go undetected, but in my opinion it helps to make them standout much clearer.
  Volume 3 picks up exactly where the last volume ended. Tsukushi realizes that the mysterious stranger she kissed on the cruise ship turns out to be Domyoji and not Rui like she hoped. Tsukushi is shocked, humiliated, and heart broken since she clearly has eyes only for Rui. Meanwhile Rui is sending Tsukushi mixed signals and also tries to persuade his longtime best friend, Shizuka, to be with him. The romantic tangles get even more confusing when Domyoji seems to be falling for Tsukushi though he admits he is only having fun teasing her though there is a softness in his eyes whenever he sees Tsukushi.
  I'm not really on any teams regarding Domyoji or Rui. Domyoji has clearly anger management issues. He goes on a tyrant when he finds out that Tsukushi has a crush on Rui. He picks on a random boy to bully and to assault. He even goes so far that attempts to sexually assault Tsukushi but realizes he is making a mistake and stops. It's important to note that many readers felt uncomfortable with this scene. I did too at first, but I did read about this aspect in articles written by manga experts. Almost all of them point out that this technique is commonly used in shojo mangas and point out that the almost assault is to show sexual intimidation. What I find interesting is that another form of assault occurs later in the volume when Tsukushi fights a man who is pushing a girl to have sex with him. Perhaps this incident is make us aware that both Tsukushi and Domyoji have violent tendencies and nothing more.
  Unlike Domyoji who has aspects we can pinpoint and not like, Rui is much harder to figure out. He is the quietest out of the F4 bunch and he has lots of calm moments shared with Tsukushi. His feelings for Shizuka is very clear and I don't see him stringing Tsukushi along. I'm curious to see how his character develops.
  Boys over Flowers has a lot of things happening plotwise and I'm sure it will focus more on characters once the overall story arc is established. I'm not a fun of the manga's illustration as they seem much more cartoony to me than regular mangas. I do plan on either watching the anime or the drama series based on the manga once I finish it.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are incidents of bullying, attempted sexual assault, sexual situations, language, and underage drinking. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol. 4 by Yoko Kamio, Ouran High School Host Club by Bistco Hatori, Kodocha by Miho Obana, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda

Manga Mondays: Boys Over Flowers Vol. 2

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Normally I get manga recommendations from friends or what's been popular in libraries. I stumbled upon Boys Over Flowers when I was listening to segment on NPR called "You Must Read This". This short piece caught my attention and I had to find out why it was so strongly recommended. Boys Over Flowers is one of the best selling shojo manga series of all time in Japan and it has been adapted into dramas and animes in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. Thankfully, the series is now complete so I don't have to wait to see how it ends!

Description (from the book's panel): Tsukushi continues to fight back against the F4 and protect an old friend who has also been given the infamous "red flag." Rui's old flame returns from France. Can Tsukushi really compete with this "perfect girl"? Meanwhile Tsukushi's resistance to the F4 seems like it might actually work.

Review: In the second volume of Boys over Flowers, the relationship triangle that will move this series forward is starting to quickly take form. Tsukushi has developed a crush on Rui, the quiet and most unlike of the stuck-up and hormone-driven of the F4 group who has saved her from humiliation more than once. I like Rui so far. He really reminds me of Jordan Catalano from My So-Called Life, the misunderstood slacker who has so many mysteries behind his gorgeous eyes. Like our heroine, I want to know more about him.
  Under the pretense that Rui would attend a party, Tsukushi allows herself to get excited to attend a party hosted by the richest kids of her school, but soon she realizes that she was only invited to serve as live entertainment as the mean girls publicly belittle her and dump champagne over her head. Instead of running away crying, Tskushi holds her ground and fights back with her words and calls out on the mean girls snarky  and earns our support more than ever.
  Interesting developments happen the next day where Tsukushi finds out that Rui is in love Shizuka, his childhood best friend who has become an extremely popular model that is returning to Japan after a photo shoot in France. Tsukushi is very much aware that can not compete with Shizuka's beauty, popularity, nor social status yet a small part of her hopes that Rui feels something toward her. It's pretty evident that Shizuka only loves Rui as a brother, but maybe it's just me having wishful thinking as I think Tsukushi and Rui would make a great couple.
   Things get more dicey as we find out that Domyoji starts to have feelings toward Tsukushi. He is completely confused and fascinated by her as she is the first girl who calls him out on being a jerk. He tries to win her over by changing his appearance such as straightening his curly hair thinking Tsukushi would see him differently. I'm sure there is more to Domyoji's character than being a clueless jerk. You do see glimpses of her vulnerability and he clearly uses his anger as a defense mechanism. He definitely has a hot temper that gets him in trouble especially when it involves Tsukushi. For example, Domyoji gets jealous and angry at anyone (particularly if it's a boy) who gets close to Tsukushi. He blindly hands out a red slip to the new boy in school. That new boy is actually Kazuya, an old optimistic, yet clueless childhood buddy of Tsukushi who harbors a crush on her. He even has a huge fight with Rui when Rui refuses to join in the bullying. 
   The volume ends on a very interesting incident as Domyoji over hears Tsukushi's Spring Break plan of meeting up with Kazuya at Atami and decides to vacation there as well. Needless to say Tsukushi and Razuya are less than thrilled when they notices Domyoji and the F4 clan. Tsukushi is stunned when Shizuka offers her to join their party and realizes that she really is genuinely nice to let Tsukushi borrow her clothes and help her get dressed up. Suddenly an announcement is made that the lights will be off and everyone needs to choose a person to kiss. The person who kisses Tsukushi is who we do not expect! I'm really curious to see what Tsukushi's reaction will be in the next volume.


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language in this volume. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol. 3 by Yoko Kamio, Ouran High School Host Club by Bistco Hatori, Kodocha by Miho Obana, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda

Manga Monday: Vampire Knight Vol. 16

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Vampire Knight is one of my favorite manga series. Getting each new volume of the manga is like watching a new episode of your favorite TV show. Hino has hinted that the series will come to a close soon. I have so many theories on how the story will end, some of which I like more than others. I'm excited to see how this popular series ends and whether or not a third season of the anime will be in works.

Description (from the back cover): The Night Class is back in session, but Yuki finds herself quickly becoming second fiddle to Sara Shirabuki. With Kaname gone, Yuki is now desperate for blood, so Zero offers hers his own. Will she break her promise to Kaname and drink from Zero?

Review: Full of action and teasers, Volume 16 of Vampire Knight moves the plot forward but leaves its readers with lots of questions. Kaname is still missing, but we have come to learn that he is on a mission to annihilate all pureblood vampires. The only question we have is: why? Why take this drastic step? What possibly could he achieve by killing other purebloods and what does this mean for Yuki now that she is one? From previous volumes, we have been accustomed to Kaname's strange, ambiguous plans. They are never straightforward as they seem.
  Meanwhile Yuki is having trouble in embracing her leadership role. While she has lost a popular election to Sara Shirabuki as class president, Yuki is appointed by Sara to do the busy work of overlooking the Night Class. Not only is Yuki trying her best to keep the Night Class under control, she is also struggling to make sense of her attraction to Zero. Though they both have claimed to cut ties with one another, it is evident that they both share strong feelings that they refuse to admit. The panels featuring Zero and Yuki alone are my favorite to read as their tension flies off the page.
  As much as I like trying to sort out the very tangled love triangle in this series, the person who stole the spotlight in this volume is Sara Shirabuki. Quiet, creepy, and extremely cunning Sara has managed to take control of both vampires and humans by creating tablets that are made using her blood. When vampires and humans take these "new and expertly" designed tablets, they become addicted to the blood and compelled by Sara to do what she wills. The only way to defeat these tablets is to come another pureblood vampire's blood. Like many other villains in the Vampire Knight series, Sara also has ulterior motives. She has convinced Zero to be on her side by whispering some of "Kaname's secrets." I'm anxiously awaiting the release of Volume 17 to see what Sara told Zero and what will happen if Kaname does return.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violent scenes in the book. Recommended for teens and up.


If you like this book try: Vampire Knight Volume 17 by Matsuri Hino, Black Bird series by Kanoko Sakurakouji, Millennium Snow series by Bisco Hatori

Manga Mondays: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 6

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Afterschool Charisma manga series a great science fiction read that has an interesting story line and probes the reader to question everything that he or she has learned.

Description: Kai, the terrorist and leader of the clone rebellion, continues his story of the past and paints a bleak potential future for the clones if they don't spring into action. Meanwhile Shiro is in an odd position. He had always thought of himself as an original, but now he learns startling facts about himself: he is just like any othe clone. Now he wonders what his role in the St. Kelio's Academy really is.

Review:  Afterschool Charisma continues to be a manga series that focuses on the deeper philosophical questions rather than an action packed plot. In the sixth volume, the characters puzzle over the age old question, "Who are we?" and "What are we suppose to do with our lives?" Though we are given more details about the history of the elite academy, I'm still unsure of what percent is truth and propaganda. The militant Kia does paint a convincing picture of clones simply decaying and "reprogrammed" if they don't follow the same footsteps of the past. Like the last volume in which we are given two versions of clone Hitler as an example to illustrate his point, this volume gives us Elizabeth (Elizabeth the Virgin Queen). The first Elizabeth clone is obsessed with learning from books. She is secluded in a room and driven to insanity, claiming she still not educated enough. The second Elizabeth clone is depressed from not being chosen by a buyer. Unwanted and driven by curiosity of what lies beyond the gates of the Academy, she plans an escape and fails.
  I am enjoying the way this manga is told. We have been setup to believe one thing and find out that it is a lie. Shiro is in the works to be another Kai, a clone guardian. He has been led to believe that he is an original human and his only friends are the clones so he naturally bonds with them. Will he also take part in the clone rebellion? Will his opinion of the clones and himself now change? I guess I'll have to wait for volume 7 to see what happens next.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are mature themes and brief moments of strong violence, and some language. Recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 7 by Kumiko Suekane, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Hetalia: Axis Powers by Hidekaz Himaruya, Code Geass by Majiko

Manga Monday: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 5

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. The last volume of Afterschool Charisma left me with a cliffhanger of sorts. A huge event happened and ended in the fourth volume with a promise of an explanation in volume five. My problem? Volume five was constantly checked out since last May and by that time volume six was also published. So, I guess it's a mixed bag that since I got a  hold of both volumes and read them. Unlike the Nana manga series that is filled with drama with a capital "D", the Afterschool Charisma manga series gives me a brain cramp filled constant flurries of "What if?"s floating in  my head as I turn the pages.

Description: In the aftermath of the disastrous school expo at St. Kleio Academy, an exclusive school of famous historical clones, where some of the clones were killed (most noteably Joan of Arc who was burned the stake), a returning clone known only as “Kai” who bears a disturbing resemblance to Shirou tells a story about the previous generation of clones and what could have turned him and others into “terrorists” working against the school.

Review: I really wished the publishers and the authors would work harder in recapping the story thus far before continuing the story arc. It's a good thing that I reviewed my older review posts as well as checked out some other reviewers before diving into this latest volume. Volume 5 promised some answers, but like the nature of this entire manga series it provides more questions than answers.
  Volume 5 centers around the main questions of why clones, regardless if they are famous historical figures, are made? What is the purpose of St. Kleio Academy? Are the lives of clones entitled to make their own mark or are they predestined to follow their footsteps of their predecessor?
  The mysterious "Kai", who is an ordinary person that was cloned, is our peek inside St. Kleio Academy. Though set up like a school, the academy is a breeding farm that herds clones like cattle and sell them off to auctions. The clones are forced to follow their predecessor's footsteps (i.e. have the same accomplishments, skills, and even behavior/personality). If the clone is seen to be out of place, they are aborted and created anew. Kai is an interesting character, who makes you feel torn between feeling sorry for him and making you wonder what plans he has up his sleeves. As the main figure who catalyzed the clone rebellion (or is the rebellion just for the amusement of the Academy director?), he provides information to the current class of clones. Now whether this information is true or just another form of propaganda, that yet to be determined.
  In addition to Kai, we are given different scenarios of what clones can accomplish in this volume. The most striking clone for me in this series has been the young Hitler. Like his care-free personality, his youthful and innocent physical appears is very striking. There are two clone Hitlers explored. The first Hitler is a very talented young artist who has no political ambitions whatsoever. Once discovered this clone suddenly disappears and a new Hitler clone appears. The second Hitler clone is aware and appalled by his original's actions. He gives his whole life up to a religious institution and atones for his original's sins and dies a noble death. With these two versions of what could have been, we can't help but wonder if the old saying "history will repeat itself?" rings true.
  I really enjoy how the moral ambiguities of cloning as it lends itself to discussion and it's really what draws me to this series. I really want to know about what society needs these clones of historical figures for that they are producing them and auctioning them off like a meat market. What societal pressure is causing this? What exactly are they expected to do out there?

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some crude sexual humor, a brief scene of nudity, and violence. Recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book then try: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 6 by Kumiko Suekane, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Hetalia: Axis Powers by Hidekaz Himaruya, Code Geass by Majiko

Manga Monday: Vampire Knight Vol. 15

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Vampire Knight is one of my favorite manga series. Getting each new volume of the manga is like watching a new episode of your favorite TV show. Unfortunately, the plot of the manga can be confusing at times, especially when the volumes have a long break between them and the publishers don't write a really good summary of the series as a recap for its readers.

Description: With Kaname missing, Yuki must now step in as acting head of her clan to maintain the fragile peace between the human and vampire societies. Will she be able to regain the trust of the vampire aristocrats, much less Aido?

Review: Volume 15 of Vampire Knight immediately picks up where volume 14 ended. Kaname has murdered two pureblood vampire aristocrats for mysterious reasons and now he is nowhere to be found. The Vampire Hunter society has arrested Yuki in hopes of finding out information about Kaname. Yuki, like the rest of us, has no idea what Kaname intends to do nor does she have any clue about his whereabouts.
I found this volume to be a bit confusing, but I did enjoy watching Yuki stand up on her own two feet. With Kaname absent, she now has to take the responsibility in leading the vampires, tame their frantic aristocrats, and reinstate the peace alliance between vampires, vampire hunters, and humans. Yuki struggles on how to lead her people. She is not a natural leader nor charismatic, but her compassion and her human experiences give her an edge. Unlike Kaname who has ruled with an iron fist, Yuki gives her followers an option and they almost always obey because they know she is right. As her first move as leader, Yuki wants to rebuild a school where Day and Night Classes once again take place. Though the idea of recreating a school may seem an odd move at first, it does reassure the vampires that an organized, structured framework can once again be placed.
  Hino once again teases the readers about the ambiguous relationship between Yuki and Zero, who were once best friends and had the potential to become much more. Though Zero claims to not want anything to do with Yuki, he is always found in her periphery. His hatred of vampires is tangible and understandable given his dark past. He is deteriorating quickly, which he can't hide from Yuki. Similarly, Yuki tries to hold on to her humanity and suppresses her urge to drink from humans in order to be a role model of how she would like her vampires to behave, but Zero knows how difficult it is for her.
  With the exception of the last few panels featuring Yuki and Zero, I was a bit disappointed with Hino's artwork. There was quite a lot of shading and quite a few panels broken within one another. It was a bit hard  trying to figure out what was happening. Also there were quite a few new characters mentioned in this volume that I'm pretty sure weren't there before and I'm really hoping their introduction would be made clearer in the next volume.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some violence and mild language. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Vampire Knight Volume 16 by Matsuri Hino, Black Bird series by Kanoko Sakurakouji, Millennium Snow series by Bisco Hatori

Manga Mondays: Black Butler Vol. 8

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Now that I'm at a stand-still for the Nana manga series, I'm trying to catch up on some of my other ongoing manga series. Thankfully the manga series that I've been reading are from different genres which prevent me from confusing one from the other. Today I'll be reviewing the eighth volume of Black Butler.

Description (from Goodreads): When one curtain falls upon the big top stage, another rises behind the scenes, as young Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his virtuoso butler, Sebastian, face off against the villain behind the missing children. But as Sebastian, under orders from his master, single-handedly draws the gruesome tale to its sad conclusion on one front, battle lines are drawn on another! With the masterless Phantomhive Manor under attack from the Noah's Ark Circus and Sebastian nowhere nearby to protect its inhabitants, is Ciel's home once again headed for the same tragedy that took the lives of the young earl's parents?

Review: Black Butler is a genre bending manga that combines historical fiction  humor, supernatural, and horror. The plot arcs can begin on a bleak note but at its halfway mark turn to a slapstick comedy or in the case of the eighth episode an out and out battle.
   As you may recall, the seventh volume of Black Butler gives us important background information regarding the circus that Ciel and Sebastian have been ordered to investigate by Queen Victoria after many children have been kidnapped. The circus master is completely deranged and has used the children, almost always orphaned and deformed, for various body parts for his own 'plastic surgery' in order to achieve bodily perfection. Volume eight rounds out the circus arc in nonstop action until the very dark and disturbing ending. The Joker and his crew have arrived to Phantomhive to avenge the death of their master. You can't help pity them when it is revealed what they were fighting for and the lies they were told.
  I was surprised quite a few times while reading this volume. Unlike the previous volumes where Sebastian routinely steals the show, it is the servants of the Phantomhive that surprises and delights the readers in unveiling hidden talents. I knew they had to be worthy of something besides being there in the manga for slapstick humor. Another thing that really shocked me is how Ciel handled the problem of the missing children locked in cages. It is very easy to forget that Ciel is merely a boy but Toboso reminds us vividly when Ciel acts upon his emotions, particularly fear and rage, instead of a cool mind when he does the impossible.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong violence throughout this volume. There is also some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Blue Exorcist series by Kazue Kato, Soul Eater series by Atsushi Ohkubo

Manga Mondays: Library Wars Vol. 7

   Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Now that I'm at a stand-still for the Nana manga series, I'm trying to catch up on some of my other ongoing manga series. Today I'll be reviewing the seventh volume of the Library Wars.

Description (from Goodreads):  Hikaru's big brother is working for the enemy, and he wants to reunite with Hikaru. Meanwhile, someone is posting negative reviews on the library's website, and Kasahara intends to find out who. Later, personal issues are set aside when the Library Forces find out about a book burning on their home turf!

Review: The Library Wars is a hit or miss manga series for me. I honestly don't care much for the comedy, romance or fighting, but I am interested on the different political scenarios that are involved with libraries, particularly that of censorship and library patron's rights. Volume 7 has a much serious and direct, giving us an ample amount of suspense and intrigue to hold our attention more so than the previous lighthearted volumes.
  The plot this time around focuses on the ethics of censorship and partisan politics within the library system. Freedom of speech, whether or not libraries should become a government agency rather than a public good, and book burning are all dealt with and for the most part quite well in the book. Each issue is tackled separately though they all come together in the end.
  Though there isn't much growth in the romantic, relationship department, we do get to know more about the  sibling bond between Hikaru and his old older brother. Hikaru has always been seen as a serious, distant competitor, but we get to see a more human and three dimensional aspect to him when he expresses his concerns about the library rights which are completely against his brother's pro-censorship faction. The tension and suspense picks up nicely in a cliffhanger where poor Iku is unknowingly found in the middle of a book burning scandal which may or may not have been organized by Hikaru's brother. Iku must use her wits and her instructor Dojo's advice to prove her innocence.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and adult themes. Recommended for teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Library Wars Vol. 8 by Kiiro Yumi,

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol 21

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and where love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Description (abridged to avoid major spoilers): Tragedy strikes the world of Nana. One horrible accident will change the course of everyone's future...

Review: While Volume 20 left me heart broken with lots of foreshadowing, Volume 21 tore my heart asunder. The story is cloaked in sadness and grief as we lose one vital character from the manga series. The main arc of this story is watching how each character reacts and deals with the loss. Once again the art of Yazawa is impeccable. She deftly uses wordless panels to show her characters' emotions without relying on wordy dialogue. It is also obvious that the author isn't shy away from causing her characters pain, but that's what gives this otherwise melodramatic soap opera manga some realism.
 Other readers have Nana complained that the series focused too much on the various character relationships, watching who breaks up and who gets together. I would argue, however, that each relationship regardless how I feel about them adds an additional layer to the character's personality. There is no doubt that Volume 20 and 21 are the climax of the series providing us with a new story arc, however, the series is currently on hiatus since 2010 due to the author's illness. I really hope that author picks up the series again as many fans, including myself, need some closure. Perhaps I can relive the series by watching the anime and/or live action movies based on the series.

Rated: 5 stars

Words of Caution: Mature themes and language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 20

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and where love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Description (from Goodreads): Ren's drug use is spiraling out of control and he doesn't want to drag Trapnest down with him. Neither Takumi nor Reira are willing to let Ren quit the band, and both do their best to give him the time he needs to get it together. But Ren isn't sure this is something he can handle on his own. Will he turn to Nana for help, or will their strained relationship make him try to face his demons alone?

Review: Though volume 20 might be one of the shortest volumes of Nana, but it packed a powerful punch that left me reeling and in tears. It's hard to believe that the story of two girls with the same name has taken place for a year. Do you know the saying, "When it rains, it pours?" Yeah, well it's pouring buckets and buckets in the world of Nana. Blast has had to break up and Nana O. begins to pick up the pieces and start her solo career. This time Trapnest is imploding from within: Takumi crosses the his boundaries with his relationship with Reira in the hopes of containing the damage, while Ren attempts to leave band as he knows his drug use has gotten out of control.
    Yazawa has some of the most beautiful artwork in this volume. The tone of the volume is colored in quiet, dark strokes. There are several panels that are wordless yet the character's body language speaks loudly. There are a few comic intervals than usual and the "look" from the characters clothes, dialogue is suitably oppressive and tense. She really does do an amazing job of keeping it all visually consistent.
   One of the reasons why I love this manga despite its melodrama, soap opera plot line is the way in which its multi-stranded plot jumps back and forth in time. The stories and the character's internal conflicts in their essence is very realistic. Besides the main story line and the inevitable character "back-stories," there are also sections of the story that are set an unspecified number of years in the future, and indeed, much of the continuing dramatic tensions revolves around what happened to Nana Osaki and the rest in-between. We are told that the Nanas have separated and the fiery, strong-willed Nana O. that we have come to love has irrevocably changed. In this volume we now understand what tragedy occurred and how its magnitude is felt with all the characters.
  Another reason why I love this manga is the growing character development for all of the characters. The chapters from the future suggest that characters, particularly Takumi who I find is most striking, have changed. It is as if to suggest that the most single event in this book was a wake-up call for all of the characters. Needless to say, this volume ends with the single event which is likely to begin the ripples which will bring this series racing toward its climax. I don't know how the characters will deal with the present situation and move forward.

Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: There are mature themes and depiction of drug use. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana Vol 21 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 19

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and where love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Description (from Goodreads): The tabloid feeding frenzy has finally brought Blast down, but Nana is determined to keep hope alive. She's going to take a gig as a solo artist, and even accept acting jobs she has no interest in. As long as she keeps herself in the spotlight, she knows there's a chance Blast can make a comeback. But while all eyes are on Nana, what's happening to her friends in the background?!

Review: Valentines Day is the setting in this volume of Nana and things should be great but since happiness is short term in this manga series you can expect a lot of melodramatic moments. As you may recall, Blast's first major tour has been cancelled due to Shin's sudden arrest. In a last ditch effort, Nana O. tried to save the tour by swallowing her pride and asked Ren to fill in Shin's shoes. Ren flat out refused saying it would be an insult to both of their bands and told Nana O. to stop being selfish. I can see his point. When it comes to music and her career, Nana can have tunnel vision. She didn't stop to consider that Ren is not part of her band and that he won't drop everything for her just because he is her husband. Both Nana O. and Ren want to retain their own individuality. Now Nana O. and Ren are in a fight and not speaking to one another. Nana O. is staying at her old apartment while Ren is trying to overcome his drug addition to either cocaine or heroin (I'm not really sure since it just looks like powder in a pouch). Though we do see Ren dumping the drug in a hotel toilet and trying to recommit himself to his band, the next few panels shows him going through really bad withdrawals and ultimately succumbing to the drug. We also find out that a higher person in Trapnest's agency is Ren's supplier and will continue to supply so long as Ren writes hit songs for Trapnest.
  Meanwhile a weird love triangle has surfaced between Reira, Takumi, and Shin. Reira is refusing to back down from her strong feelings towards Takumi. She gives him a box of chocolate and confesses that she has always been in love with him. Taken aback, Takumi shuts off all of his emotions. He talks cruelly to her in hopes that she would leave him alone. He insists that she has no feelings for him and that she is projecting what she feels for Shin on to him. Reira gets angry and says that no matter who she loves, he will always be the first one on that list. In response, Takumi says that the only way for Reira to be with him is to regulate herself as one of his many mistresses. Reira immediately accepts, which shocks both Takumi and myself. I've never been fond of Takumi and Reira as a potential couple, but Yazawa manages to make us care for them by showing how their relationship has evolved since being introduced to one another as kids. Though it is clear that Reira's feeling for Takumi have never wavered from love. She sees the best in him. Contrastly, Takumi fluctuates between caring and even possibly loving Reira but has always used her as an instrument to get ahead. Perhaps now he's willing to open himself up to Reira.
  What makes the Reira, Takumi, and Shin love triangle interesting is that Takumi is the one who separated Reira and Shin not because he had feelings for Reira but he was afraid that this relationship would bring scandal to the band since Shin is technically a minor. Now that Reira is willing to be his mistress, Takumi is afraid of himself and what he might do. He is clearly attracted to Reira since they kissed passionately a few times and I have no doubt they would have gone further if they weren't interrupted by their assistant manager. Unsure of himself, Takumi actually advises Shin to get back with Reira and hopes that Shin would return to Reira so he doesn't have to think about Reira anymore. I was thrilled to see Shin refusing to rush back to Reira and saying that he has to get his priorities straight. With Shin out of the picture, Takumi and Reira have full reign and I just know things are going to be messy.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: While there isn't strong language or sexual situations in this novel, there are mature themes discussed. I would still recommend this series to mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana Vol 20 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 18

Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and where love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Description (from the back of the volume): Things aren't looking good for Blast. Shin, under extreme stress from the band's rising success and his relationship with Reira, seeks out reconciliation wherever he can. Reestablishing ties with his own family turns out to be a horrible failure, and before he can connect Nana with her unknown little sister, Shin gets arrested! Is this the end of Blast?!

Review: I can clearly see why many readers would be incredibly frustrated with Nana. Nothing is simple and all the relationships that I would like to be over and done with continue, which infuriates me to no end. The two story lines, one from the future and one from the present, still remain and are cleverly placed with enough teasers to capture our attention.
In the future, Nana O. remains in hiding and singing in some remote pub in England according to the latest Japanese paparazzi photos. From what I gather in the bleak monologues, Nana O. has lost all hope. She is extremely depressed and quite possibly suicidal. Blast is no longer though the band mates still remain incredibly close. Nobu has partnered with his family business and running a club for aspiring musicians while Shin is a famous actor. It's unclear what Yasu seems to be doing, but it's possible that he picked his law degree back up. Nana K. seems have gone into a fashion business and she seems to have another kid.
  Meanwhile in the present, Blast is all set for their first tour and they are ready to prove everyone that they are not just a manufactured one hit wonder. Things seem to be falling into place until Shin routinely shows up late for rehearsals and then suddenly is missing causing ripples of panic and frustration for his band. After a frantic search, Shin found in jail and is arrested. When we hear of Shin's arrest, we also find out through his texts that he has reached out to Nana's half sister's best friend and has requested her to meet and tell Nana O. everything about her family.
  Like many of the side characters, I adore Shin. He and Nana O. share many similarities. They are both ostracized by their family, believed to be unloved and strongly attach themselves to others in order to feel whole. Now that Shin has lost his anchor with Reira, he is struggling to not only make a connection somewhere, but trying to find his purpose in life. The one good thing about this arrest is that it will hopefully give him some time to re-evaluate things and grow-up.  Due to Shin's fiascos, Blast's tour is in jeopardy. The agency cancels the tour all together and I have to say that's a bit extreme. Now I'm left with several unanswered questions: Will Nana O's dream of becoming Japan's most famous rock star dream end or is she willing to leave her band and start a solo career? Will Nana O's half sister's best friend make it to Nana O and tell all about the family that she has never known? What drove Nana O. away from her friends and is it at all possible for a happy reunion? I guess the only way to find out is to read the next volume! 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution:  Language, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana Vol 19 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 17

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and love and heartbreak go hand in hand. It seems that the closer that I get to volume 21 where the series is at a stand still, the more ominous the tone gets. I hope my characters will be alright.

Description (from back of the volume): Ever since she got engaged to Takumi and moved out of apartment 707, Nana K. has felt like she's slipping out of Nana O's life. When the tabloids start digging up Nana O's troubled family history, Nana K tries to step in and take care of things. But will her good intentions stir up more trouble? Blast is rocketing to stardom, and the price for bringing them down keeps going up.

Review: In the last few volumes of Nana that I've read, we are steered to the more personal aspects of Nana O.'s life. Volume 17 gives us a little more insight into Nana O's family and her past. There are two story lines going on, one of the future and one of the present. In the future, Nana O. has gone missing. People in the music industry believe she is dead, much like many young rock stars who diffuse easily once they reach the flames of popularity. Her bandmates, however,  strongly believe that is she is alive but just doesn't want to be found.  One day when Nana K. comes to apartment 707, the apartment she shared with Nana O. when they first moved to Tokyo, and checks the mail, she finds an envelope addressed to her with pictures of a girl with long hair and the same tattoo as Nana on her arm, singing at a bar. With clues such as this photo, the band is beginning to investigate Nana O. possible whereabouts. Blast's band status is still unknown, but I'm guessing that they either completely broken up or just put on pause until they reunite with their lead singer.
  After a stressful and anxiety ridden first chapter in the future, we are now taken to the present as Nana K. has been approached by a tabloid reporter saying he knows about Nana O's past and hints at Nana O's family's current location will publish it as the next big story. Nana K., who is always noted for her brilliance (yes, that's sarcasm) decides to go to Nana O's hometown and warn Nana's mother about the paparazzi blitz that will surely take place, but the woman denies having a daughter named Nana though they share many familiar physical features. As readers, we know that the woman is lying and is indeed Nana O's mother. We are also given more information about Nana O's family background, particularly of the strained relationship between Nana O's mother and grandmother, which might explain the nonexistent mother and daughter relationship between Nana O. and her mother. To cheer Nana O. up when she realizes that the story will break, Nana K. comes to live with her until Takumi returns from his trip. After this sudden turn of events, we are left with several questions. Will Nana O. be fine? Now that Misato, Nana O's half-sister who is a fan of hers, knows about their relationship, how will she react? And will she leave Nana O. alone? Will Nana O's mother's life be the same and will she ever reunite with her daughter?
 In other plot developments, Reira have broken up with Shin because she said she wanted to focus on her career. Hurt and heart broken Shin cuts all ties with Reira, but Reira seems to be the one who can't let go by sending him text messages and proposals for nightly visits. What is interesting is that the more time Ren spends with Reira and the two openly talk, we suspect that Reira's real plans are of wanting to be near Takumi. And in a scene from Reira's childhood, we see her telling Takumi that she loves him. What are Reira's true intentions? And does she really have feelings besides lust for Shin?

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Language, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana Vol 18 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 16

Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and love and heart break go hand in hand. I'm coming close to where the series is at a stand still and I'm nervous that the series will end in a cliffhanger of sorts.

Description: Blast is at the top of the charts, and the band is making all kinds of P.R. appearances. Nana just wants to sing though, and all the marketing is starting to wear on her. A party planned for the loyal fans might be just what she needs to cheer her up. But there are secrets about her past lurking in Osaka, and the magazine Search Weekly is determined to bring them to light!

Review: In Volume 16 of Nana, we take a nice break from the melodrama surrounding the various romantic relationships in the book. Normally, I don't mind the drama as it makes the reading quicker, but I get so frustrated because I want to see all the characters (well, except for evil Takumi) to be happy! Happiness in the world of Nana is fleeting, which gives the series a melancholy touch.

  As this volume unfolds, the plot focuses on the tabloids crazy obsession to find more dirt on Nana O. especially as her band Blast's popularity surges and sits comfortably at the top of the charts. Since they were unable to publish the rumored "Ren's having an affair!" headline thanks to Taukmi's smart diversion, the tabloids are now hunting any snippet of information regarding Nana's past, particularly about her family history.  

 Even though we are into 16 volumes of this series, we are left much in the dark about Nana's past. We do know that she was abandoned by her mother at a very young age and was raised by her grandmother. In this volume, we discover that Nana's mother is still alive, has been remarried, and now has two children. There has been no communication between Nana and her mother, who she presumed was dead. Nana has not even visited her hometown nor shows any desire to do so. So when Misato, Blast's biggest fan now turned Assistant Manager, and Nana K. catch wind about Nana's mother they try to keep the news away from Nana O. in fear of making her sad and angry. What Misato and Nana K. don't know is that Nana's half sister is actually at the party that Blast held for its biggest fans. Nana's half sister, also named Misato, is adorable. She really looks uncannily like Nana O. with the same hair style and physical features. The two girls meet but only as singer and fan.

  While I understand Nana K. and Assistant Manager Misato's attention of wanting to keep this information from Nana, I do think they are being a bit too presumptuous and cuddling Nana. Unlike Nana K. who falls apart with any hint of sadness that touches her life, Nana O. has endured pain and made stronger of it. Of course, Nana O. will be devastated to find out the news about her mother and siblings, but I think that continuous hole she feels inside of her might just close. 

  Hanging over this possibility is the cloud of doom that scares me most, as we are given a cruel sneak peek at the future where Nana O. has disappeared and feared dead. How's that for an attention grabber? 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Language, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 17 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 14

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where love is constantly entangled with music, heartache, and happiness.

Description: As Blast gears up for their major label debut, their fan club starts mobilizing. Led by the chic Shion, these ladies are serious fans who won't let anyone mess with their band. But the fan club has it out for Misato, a maverick fan who has gotten too close to Nana. What will they say when they find out Misato is applying for a job with Blast?!

Review: Volume 14 was a disappointing read. There was a lack of organization and jarring transitions between the different story lines. We get a glimpse at the rabid Blast fan base as hoards of groupies wait and crowd a hotel waiting for their favorite band to show up. This story line really did nothing for me and I didn't think it added much to the overall story arc of Nana too. I was a bit confused as to why Yazama added it.
   As you probably notice if you're following my reviews of Nana thus far, happiness is very temporary in this series. It seems as if the characters are desperately scrambling to stay a float and trying not to get disappointed when they don't meet their sky high expectations. We do get this familiar melancholy current when we learn something crucial about Ren, particularly his current relationship with Nana and his past with Reira.
  Ren and Nana O. have many similarities, which be why they are so drawn to one another. Nana O. was abandoned at a young age and Ren grew up in an orphanage. Both use music as their lifeline and identity. Now Ren seems like he is losing everything. He opens up to Reira how insecure he feels around Yasu, his best friend and from my perspective how Ren wanted his life to be. What is admirable about Yasu is that he is isn't a very emotional person-that is he thinks things through logically and calmly. He does things on his own terms, not because he is pressured to do so unlike Ren. For Ren, his band Trapnest is slowly suffocating him and making him numb. So numb that he has taken to cocaine to make him feel something.
   Ren and Reira take a ride to get away from the band for an afternoon. They both recall memories of when they first met, which I believe this takes place before Ren and Nana O. meet. I wasn't surprised to find out that Ren had a crush on Reira. Reira is an attractive girl with a great voice and a nice personality. What surprised me is how Ren described Yasu pursuing Reira and how he wished he could do the same for Nana O. It's clear that both Ren and Yasu wanted Reira, but Yasu went after Reira and made it happen. Presently, Ren has Nana O., his proposal of marriage is what binds her to him, but Ren is still afraid of Yasu who he has always known carried a torch for Nana O. for as long as they could both remember.
  What frustrates me about Ren is that he has made himself to be the unwanted loser and be more codependent then he has ever been before. He definitely is a drifter and can leave the band. He does mention that he would want Nana O. to leave Blast and be with him. don't understand what stops him from leaving Trapnest. It's hard to know what he wants because he emotionally shuts down and refuses to talk.
  Meanwhile the paparazzi spy Ren and Reira together in hugs and other poses that look like they are having an affair if you didn't know what was happening. Those photos are then given to Nana O. as a "present" by the tabloid company and I'm sure all hell is going to break loose in the next volume.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: Drug use, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 15 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 13

  It's time for Manga Mondays! Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where love is constantly entangled with music, heartache, and happiness. After looking for information about the author, I realized that I was misinformed about the Nana series. The series is not complete, but put on hold as the author recuperates from an illness. Presently, there are no volumes published after volume 21 which is where I got confused. I apologize for the misinformation.

Description: Nana K. hasn't had a real reunion with Nana or the rest of Blast since she moved in with Takumi, and Shin and Reira's joint birthday party seems like the perfect chance for a get together. Takumi, however, is furious at his fiance for crashing the event. Once again Nana K. , and she is forced to choose Takumi over Nana one more time. But was this Hachi's last chance to get back in Nana's life?

Review: Volume 13 is filled with drama. Lots of things happening all at once. I actually had to read slowly so I wouldn't miss anything. Shin and Reira are having a joint birthday party as their birthdays are a few days apart.  On the surface, this setting is suppose to be a happy occasion with great food and friends, but like the whole series, there are complex, dark undersides that lurk beneath the party decorations.
  Takumi is furious with Nana K. for "crashing" the birthday party or in his view a perfect opportunity to schmooze and network. As you may recall, Nana K. was personally invited by Reira and only came because of her loyalty to Shin, the youngest member of Blast, which was all unknown to Takumi. Takumi and Nana K. have a fight. There was a moment where I thought Nana K. grew a spine and told her caddish fiance to back off and that thing were over. Unfortunately, that passed as quickly as a blink of an eye. After several frustrating volumes, Nana K. finally admits that Takumi is not right for her, but she is afraid of being alone and due to her fear of him abandoning her at any moment, she submits to him and becomes his puppet.
  Meanwhile Nana O. and Ren can't tolerate a big crowd. They both sneak off into their own room. Nana O. is annoyed that many now think of her as only "Ren's fiance". Though she loves Ren, she hates to have her own individual identity removed. Nana O. is unaware of Ren's drug use. In the previous volumes, we get a hint that Ren has been dabbling into drugs with his occassional use of pot, but now he's getting into serious drugs (cocaine? heroine?). It is unclear, however, if the drugs are requested by him or provided to him by his music label.
  Another person spiraling down is Nobu. Poor Nobu can't get over Nana K. Their awkward meeting, which is beautifully drawn with close-ups and my favorite part of this volume, got me all choked up. Though he is heartbroken and can't rid of the "what ifs" that haunt him at night, he really wants Nana K. to be happy even if her happiness doesn't include him. After seeing Nana K. for the first time since they split up, Nobu literally launches into a relationship with Asami, the porn star, who isn't all that different from Nana K. Asami is clearly the rebound girl and I don't have any hope that their "relationship" will last.
  Like Nobu, Shin and Reira are seductively playing with the danger zone. With Shin barely being a legal adult, his relationship with Reira is really, really bad idea especially if the press got hold of his past being a male escort and age. Takumi has advised Shin to stay away from Reira, but of course emotions over ride logic. I hate to admit that I can see Takumi's logic, but he is right. So now, Takumi has enlisted Nana K.'s help to try to separate Shin and Reira. Whenever Nana K. is involved in an important task, things don't go well at all. I have no idea what her plans are, but I know it won't be good.
  Despite all of these ongoings, we get a tiny glimpse into a possibly budding romance between Miu, an actress who suffers from severe depression, and Yasu. I'm thrilled for a Yasu romance storyline as I think he's a fabulous character who is always reliable, smart, and solid. I have no idea what will happen next in Nana, but it is always an emotional rollercoaster and I wouldn't like it any other way.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, some drug references, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 14 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa