February Pre-Orders

As you may realize by now, I have this thing where I pre-order way to many books.  So, I thought, at the beginning(-ish) of each month I'd talk about which ones I have preordered.

Stars Above

by Marissa Meyer

released February 2nd

This one already arrived and I'm itching to start reading it, but I must restrain myself until I finish Winter later this month.

A Criminal Magic

by Lee Kelly

released February 2nd

This was a digital preorder and I'm so glad to be able to start this soon.  I've heard some really great things.

QQ Sweeper Vol. 2

released February 2nd

This will probably be the next manga I read since it just arrived in the mail.  I'm excited to see where it leads after that cliffhanger at the end of volume one.

Morning Star

by Pierce Brown

releases February 9th

JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS ONE GIVES ME SO MANY FEELS!  Thank goodness I don't have class on Tuesday and Wednesday off.  I will be reading this like crazy and fully expect me to spaz out whenever I talk about it.

Calamity 

by Brandon Sanderson

releases February 16th

So, I still need to read Firefight, but I loved Steelheart, so I decided to pre-order this and support one of my favorite authors.

A Gathering of Shadows

by VE Schwab

releases February 23rd

Another book I'm absolutely dying to get my hands on.  You may have noticed that I don't plan to read this one this month... well, that's because I plan to reread book one next month and this one either next month or the month after that.  I'm very eager to return to this world but I really want to take my time and ease into it.

Noragami Vol. 11

releases February 23rd

Every time I type out Norgami vol (insert number here) I can't believe how long I've been reading this series and how much I still absolutely adore it.  This cover... well, this cover gives me a lot of stress (and I can't say why because spoilers) and it will break my heart completely.  It's also, I believe, going to be the first volume past the story that the anime told, so I have no idea what's in store for me.

Batgirl Vol. 2

releases February 23rd

So, I loved volume one dearly, and I'm assuming this one will live up to it.  Eager to dig into it, honestly.

Have you preordered any books this month?  Are there any you're looking forward to?  Let me know!

Dec-Jan Manga Roundup

Welcome to a new feature here on the blog.  Since I noticed how much manga I was reading, and how  they were becoming increasingly hard to review, I thought I would change how I did these reviews.  You'll either be seeing them monthly or bi-monthly, depending on how much I read, and they will consist of several short reviews for the books I finish in that time.  I will be reviewing these books as I read them, so they will be more of reactions than proper reviews.

Noragami Volumes 7 & 8

written by Adachitoka

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

As always, this series continues to entertain.  I will say, these two volumes aren't the most serious that I've read.  Seven is a fall-out, I guess you would say, to the events of the previous few volumes.  It has a bit more comic relief, since the first two chapters have a certain god possessing a certain school girl.  Volume eight is a set-up to something serious right around the corner.  And, for the first time, we're really taken into Yato's head and we get to see why he is the way he is.  Slowly, I believe, his history will be peeled away for us, and I am unbelievable excited.  Also, Ebisu, not as much of an ass-hole as I once assumed he would be.  Actually kind of decent, just really boring and lucky.

Blue Exorcist Volumes 1 & 2

written by Kazue Kato

Rating: 3.5 & 5 Stars

Like with Noragami, when I first started reading it, I had already seen the anime and fallen in love.  So the first volume just couldn't live up to how amazing the show was.  Also, like with Noragami, by the time I got to volume two, I had found my groove and fallen in love with it again.  This series lives up to the show, so far, and has me giddy to read it.  Nothing new from these volumes, since I already knew what happened, but I loved reliving them at a different pace.  It seems to go quicker in the manga, so I'll soon be surpassing where the show left it, something I'm very excited for.

Noragami Volume 9

written by Adachitoka

Rating: 5 Stars

This one was just absolute heartbreak.  Does that surprise anyone?  Mostly, the heartbreak comes from Ebisu, who is a beautiful character and I didn't see it sooner but if I ever reread this series I will not take advantage of him like I once did.  The story is really Yato heavy, which is a shift since it's normally narrated more by Hiyori, and while I didn't dislike Yato telling the story, it was a jarring shift for sure.  A few surprises in this one, though nothing mind-blowing, just a sort of "something big is coming" feeling.

Noragami: Stray Stories

written by Adachitoka

Rating: 5 Stars

Okay, so the stories aren't super important to anything, since they're little bonus', but they're a bunch of fun and I haven't actually laughed this hard in ages.  It was particularly pleasing since I was reading it when I was feeling down on life.  If you read Noragami you will want to pick this one up, I promise.

QQ Sweeper Vol. 1

written by Kyousuke Motomi

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I picked this one up on a whim and found that I rather enjoyed it!  The pacing was strange- really, really quick when I wanted development- and the characterizations were a little off.  Honestly, I think it was just a case of lost in translation most of the time, which is a shame.  The general idea of the series is really cute, even though I absolutely hate cleaning and could never do their job.

Pandora Hearts Vol. 1

written by Jun Mochiuki

Rating: 5 Stars

Guy, guys, guys, GUYS, GUYS, GUUUUUUYYYYYSSSSS!!!!  This book was so good!!!!

Okay, so that was me spazzing out because, indeed, this manga is fantastic.  I love the art, I love the story, and I love the characters.  I'm fairly certain this series will end up breaking my heart at some point soon, but I'm ready for it.  Bring on the pain!  (But also, please don't kill everyone like I'm afraid, please...)

January Pre-Orders

So, I have the habit to preorder books, more so lately, it seems, and I wanted a chance to spotlight the books I'm most excited for releasing this month.  I'm thinking this might even become a monthly post where I talk about the books I've preordered.  So, without further ado, here we go:

Truthwitch

by Susan Dennard

releases January 6th

I've actually never read anything by Susan Dennard, even though I've had a book of hers sitting on my shelf for quite some time.  I'm looking forward to this one, since it sounds awesome, and since I've heard some really amazing early reviews.

Sword and Verse

by Kathy MacMillan 

releases January 19th

I'm excited for this one because it sounds really good.  And, I'll be buddy reading this one, so that's an extra exciting bit.

Noragami Vol. 10

releases January 26th

I think this goes without saying, but this is part of my favorite series, and this volume is going to break my heart, I know it.  So, yeah, I'll need to prepare for this one a bit before I get to it.

The Siren

by Kiera Cass

releases January 26th

I love the Selection series (even though I'm way behind) and can't wait for this one.  It's not just the author, though, that makes me excited.  I mean, have you seen this cover?  And the description?  Sounds like a dream and I'm dying as I wait.

Showdown on Smuggler's Moon

releases January 26th

I recently read volume one, and it was surprisingly amazing, so of course I had to preorder this one.  Hope it's as good as the first was (though how can it not be, right?).

Night Study

by Maria V Snyder

releases January 26th

I haven't read a single book in this series, but I own all of them on my kindle because I expect to read and love them.  I'm strange like that, and I actually used to do this a lot more two years ago.  I don't do this super-buying anymore except in the rare occasion, such as this.  I'm really looking forward to bingeing them all since it sounds right up my alley.

Horimiya Vol. 2

releases January 26th

The first volume was one of my favorite reads of last year and I'm bouncing up and down just thinking about this one.  It's one of the cutest stories I've ever read and thats exactly what I need in my life right now.

Dark Days Club

by Alison Goodman

releases January 26th

This reminded me of Infernal Devices and while I've never read Eon or Eona, my friend says they're very good.  So, I'm looking forward to this one.

What books have you preordered or are looking forward to this month?  Let me know in the comments!

5 Star Manga Review: Noragami (Vol. 5 & 6)

Author| Adachitoka  Artist| Adachitoka  Rating| 5 Stars

Edition| Paperback

Related Reviews| Volumes 1 & 2 | Volumes 3 & 4
Buy Links| Book Depository/Barnes and Noble/Amazon

Do I really need to explain why I love this series?

5 Star Manga Review: Noragami (Vol. 3 & 4)

Author| Adachitoka  Artist| Adachitoka  Rating| 5 Stars

Edition| Paperback

Related Reviews| Volumes 1 & 2

Buy Links| Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Book Depository

Sunday TV

Sunday TV is something I do every other week to highlight the shows I've been watching lately.  I've been trying to stay afloat with all the shows I'm watching, but I'm not super caught up.  Well, I've put this off for a while today because I was writing an essay.  Here's what I've been watching:

Manga and Anime Review: Noragami

Author| Adachitoka
Edition| American Paperbacks
Publisher| Kodansha Comics
Genre| Mythology
Rating| Overall 4.25 stars (5 stars anime; 4 stars for first two manga volumes)

So, where to begin with this series?  I feel like there's so much I could talk about, and I plan to, so stay with me.

Noragami is about the god Yato, who's a bit down on his luck since he doesn't have even one believer.  But he makes do, advertising everywhere and charging five yen for his service.  The thing about gods is that they're not something regular people see.  But then Hiyori, a regular girl, sees him and "saves" him from being hit by a truck.  Instead, she's hit, and the even knocks her halfway to the grave, tethered to reality and life by a "tail".  She gets Yato to promise he'll help her, but he's lazy and looking for a friend, so he takes his time and she pals around.

Anime Review
I came across the anime by accident.  It's on Netflix, and it's amazing!  The story had me before the first episode was over.  Each character that was introduced had me in love, and the story continued to build naturally.  Noragami single handidly brought me into the world of anime full-heartedly.  When I saw that the manga was being adapted into English, I heartily jumped at the chance and ordered the first two volumes.

Dub vs Sub thoughts
Let me digress for a moment.  Recently the trailer for the anime with English dubs was released.  I couldn't stand it.  The voices were all wrong and nothing matched up.  I've seen anime in the past and have been fine with it before.  However, Noragami showed me what I was missing.  There's something so much better in listening to the characters speak in Japanese.  I thought maybe this preference came from the fact that I watched Noragami in Japanese first, reading the English subs.  But then I gave another show a try, with dubs instead of subs.  Still couldn't stand it.  I can, from this day, no longer watch dubs unless I have to.

Manga Review
I've read the first two volumes of the series so far and I enjoy it.  So far it hasn't strayed from the story laid out in the anime.  However, it expands on the universe and the mythology a great deal, and also adds important character development that was missed in the show.  I liked these things about it, but I'm glad I saw the show before I read the books because then I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

What didn't I like?  The manga moves much slower than the anime.  I suppose this makes sense, but I feel like it stays focused on minor things for a little too long.  I also didn't get as strong personality out of some of the characters.  Kofuku, for example, was a little flat on the page whereas she pops on the screen.

Neither the story nor the art are bad.  In fact, art wise, it's probably my favorite manga style I've seen.  I feel like the fact that the story is slower gives it, and me, more time to breathe.  And, hopefully, will allow it to develop the relationship between Yato and Hiyori more.  In the anime, what feels like it could be a romance is rather cut off and short.

So would I recommend it?  Certainly!  Particularly if you're new to manga/anime.  It's not a long series so you won't feel swamped by its size, and the anime is readily accessible.