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109 reviews
Sailor Moon, Volume 3 by Naoko Takeuchi
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This volume concludes the Dark Kingdom Arc and begins the Black Moon Arc. For those of you only familiar with the 90s anime, the arc in-between with Ann and Ail (Anne and Allen) doesn't happen. That's anime only.
Queen Metalia is achieving her goal of acquiring the Silver Crystal and plunging earth into darkness. Sailor Moon must find the strength within herself to fight off Metalia and destroy her for good. This is the darkest volume in terms of content so far, with several deaths, blood and attempted suicide. It's not extremely graphic but it is presented right on page, so be aware in case that may be triggering for you.
Partway through the volume is when the Black Moon Arc begins. The Sailor Guardians are introduced to the new villains and a little girl named Usagi Tsukino (same name as Sailor Moon) who is then called Chibiusa. She is a bratty little kid who is lost and looking for someone to help her. There are a couple of kidnappings that occur here, as well as a very small instance of attempted gun violence.
The art of the book is slowly getting better. It feels like Takeuchi has a bit of a better grasp of what the characters look like, as well as their proportions. Though the book still moves at lightning speed, we can at least still see a passage of time and we get story beats that help develop the characters. Particularly Rei, Ami and Mamoru.
Overall, this volume is a slight improvement over the previous two. I am hopeful that this trend will continue.
Queen Metalia is achieving her goal of acquiring the Silver Crystal and plunging earth into darkness. Sailor Moon must find the strength within herself to fight off Metalia and destroy her for good. This is the darkest volume in terms of content so far, with several deaths, blood and attempted suicide. It's not extremely graphic but it is presented right on page, so be aware in case that may be triggering for you.
Partway through the volume is when the Black Moon Arc begins. The Sailor Guardians are introduced to the new villains and a little girl named Usagi Tsukino (same name as Sailor Moon) who is then called Chibiusa. She is a bratty little kid who is lost and looking for someone to help her. There are a couple of kidnappings that occur here, as well as a very small instance of attempted gun violence.
The art of the book is slowly getting better. It feels like Takeuchi has a bit of a better grasp of what the characters look like, as well as their proportions. Though the book still moves at lightning speed, we can at least still see a passage of time and we get story beats that help develop the characters. Particularly Rei, Ami and Mamoru.
Overall, this volume is a slight improvement over the previous two. I am hopeful that this trend will continue.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Suicide attempt
Minor: Gun violence, Kidnapping
Vittorio, the Vampire by Anne Rice
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was the first Anne Rice book I ever read, back when I was teenager. It was in my high school library, and I devoured it in record time. It sparked my fascination with Rice's vampire novels. And so, going back to re-read this book, I was hoping to enjoy it.
Not so much, but I'll get back to that.
Vittorio recalls the tale of his upbringing as a noble in Renaissance Italy, and the tragedy that befell his whole family. A clan of vampires brutally attacked and killed those who resided in the castle and surrounding village, leaving him the only survivor. What follows is his quest for revenge and redemption, which isn't fully fulfilled due to his trauma.
As what seems to be a result of his PTSD from the incident, he ends up misconstruing his assault at the hands of the vampire Ursula as love and becomes obsessed with her. He only realizes his mistake after he is transformed into a vampire himself, when it's far too late to do much about it. This is the thing that bothered me the most about this book. That men are not treated as being victims of sexual assault because "they are men so of course they want it," which as far as I'm concerned is bullshit.
I also wasn't too fond of the angels either. I thought at first that seemed to appear to him only because of his trauma. However, they actually used their powers to assist him with the expectation that he fulfill his mission of killing every vampire who wronged him, Ursula included. Now, it didn't seem quite so out of place as what happened to Lastat in <i>Memnoch the Devil</i> because it was already established early on the book that Vittorio came from a family that was devoutly Catholic. Still, it seemed a bit much.
That being said, I still believe that it can be a good entry point to Anne Rice's novels for some people. It is a very short book and I feel it does give readers a good idea of what to expect with her stories. It's also the only vampire novel Rice has written that stands alone from the rest. It takes place in the same world, but has no connection to any of the characters or plot points from the rest of the Vampire Chronicles.
It disappoints me that this book isn't actually as good as it seemed when I was younger. A little too problematic for my liking. A shame, really.
Not so much, but I'll get back to that.
Vittorio recalls the tale of his upbringing as a noble in Renaissance Italy, and the tragedy that befell his whole family. A clan of vampires brutally attacked and killed those who resided in the castle and surrounding village, leaving him the only survivor. What follows is his quest for revenge and redemption, which isn't fully fulfilled due to his trauma.
As what seems to be a result of his PTSD from the incident, he ends up misconstruing his assault at the hands of the vampire Ursula as love and becomes obsessed with her. He only realizes his mistake after he is transformed into a vampire himself, when it's far too late to do much about it. This is the thing that bothered me the most about this book. That men are not treated as being victims of sexual assault because "they are men so of course they want it," which as far as I'm concerned is bullshit.
I also wasn't too fond of the angels either. I thought at first that seemed to appear to him only because of his trauma. However, they actually used their powers to assist him with the expectation that he fulfill his mission of killing every vampire who wronged him, Ursula included. Now, it didn't seem quite so out of place as what happened to Lastat in <i>Memnoch the Devil</i> because it was already established early on the book that Vittorio came from a family that was devoutly Catholic. Still, it seemed a bit much.
That being said, I still believe that it can be a good entry point to Anne Rice's novels for some people. It is a very short book and I feel it does give readers a good idea of what to expect with her stories. It's also the only vampire novel Rice has written that stands alone from the rest. It takes place in the same world, but has no connection to any of the characters or plot points from the rest of the Vampire Chronicles.
It disappoints me that this book isn't actually as good as it seemed when I was younger. A little too problematic for my liking. A shame, really.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 by William Flanagan, Naoko Takeuchi
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am a life-long Sailor Moon fan and owning the manga is a dream come true. Although what happens in this first volume is not new to me, since I've seen the anime years before I read the manga, it was nice to see the original story for myself.
This is the first volume in the Dark Kingdom arc, in which the organization known as the Dark Kingdom and it's members serve as the main villains.
Sailor Moon in the tale of a 14-year-old middle school girl named Usagi Tsukino, who learns she has magical powers. By using a magical brooch, she transforms into the titular character and fights evil. The great thing about her is she's not perfect, far from it. She's a bit of crybaby, always late for school, gets bad grades, and rather each, sleep and play video games than do anything else. She often need to be reassured by friends and allies, as she tends to lack self-confidence at first.
Throughout this volume, Sailor Moon gains new allies in Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Jupiter. The primary villains are Jadeite and Nephrite, and the "monsters of the day" that serve them. Queen Beryl and Kunzite are also present, but serve more as background characters in this volume. Zoicite begins to serve as a main villain toward the end of the volume.
I found the art and storytelling in this book to be good, but not as good as the prequel Codename: Sailor V or later volumes. You can tell the author was still working on finalizing the look. The pacing was also very, very fast. Other than the major events occurring on different days, there is no clear indication of how time is passing. The characters, as they awakened one by one, all seemed to gain a grasp of their powers very quickly as well. However, at least that can be explained by latent memories from a previous life.
Not a strong start, but it is a good start.
This is the first volume in the Dark Kingdom arc, in which the organization known as the Dark Kingdom and it's members serve as the main villains.
Sailor Moon in the tale of a 14-year-old middle school girl named Usagi Tsukino, who learns she has magical powers. By using a magical brooch, she transforms into the titular character and fights evil. The great thing about her is she's not perfect, far from it. She's a bit of crybaby, always late for school, gets bad grades, and rather each, sleep and play video games than do anything else. She often need to be reassured by friends and allies, as she tends to lack self-confidence at first.
Throughout this volume, Sailor Moon gains new allies in Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Jupiter. The primary villains are Jadeite and Nephrite, and the "monsters of the day" that serve them. Queen Beryl and Kunzite are also present, but serve more as background characters in this volume. Zoicite begins to serve as a main villain toward the end of the volume.
I found the art and storytelling in this book to be good, but not as good as the prequel Codename: Sailor V or later volumes. You can tell the author was still working on finalizing the look. The pacing was also very, very fast. Other than the major events occurring on different days, there is no clear indication of how time is passing. The characters, as they awakened one by one, all seemed to gain a grasp of their powers very quickly as well. However, at least that can be explained by latent memories from a previous life.
Not a strong start, but it is a good start.
Pandora by Anne Rice
challenging
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Pandora is the first book in the New tales of the Vampires sub-series of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. A short novel that serves as the origin story of Pandora, a character previously namedropped in The Vampire Lestat and first appeared as a character in The Queen of the Damned. David Talbot approaches Pandora in a cafe, and leaves behind a notebook and pen in the hopes that she will record her life story. She does of course, since we have this book.
Pandora was born in Rome during the reign of Augustus and grew up in a privileged noble family. It is through her words we learn of the multiple encounters she had with Marius, some from even before he became a vampire. We learn of what life was like for a woman in Ancient Rome. We watch as she loses her home and goes into hiding under an alias (which is why she came up with the name "Pandora" in the first place).
While the first half of the book had a lot of content, the latter half was more slim. The pacing was a little took fast and it glossed over large portions of Pandora's life as a vampire. Don't get me wrong. It was good to learn about how her life was as a human, but I read books for the vampire goodness and there wasn't a whole lot of that.
Overall, I would recommend Pandora for those curious about the character, those who love historical vampire tales, and those who want a nice quick read. It just over 300 pages, and that's wish a larger-than-normal font for a mass market paperback. A breeze to get through.
Pandora was born in Rome during the reign of Augustus and grew up in a privileged noble family. It is through her words we learn of the multiple encounters she had with Marius, some from even before he became a vampire. We learn of what life was like for a woman in Ancient Rome. We watch as she loses her home and goes into hiding under an alias (which is why she came up with the name "Pandora" in the first place).
While the first half of the book had a lot of content, the latter half was more slim. The pacing was a little took fast and it glossed over large portions of Pandora's life as a vampire. Don't get me wrong. It was good to learn about how her life was as a human, but I read books for the vampire goodness and there wasn't a whole lot of that.
Overall, I would recommend Pandora for those curious about the character, those who love historical vampire tales, and those who want a nice quick read. It just over 300 pages, and that's wish a larger-than-normal font for a mass market paperback. A breeze to get through.
The Vampire Armand by Anne Rice
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Vampire Armand is the 6th book in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles (8th if you count both books from New Tales of the Vampires). As the title implies, this book is the story of Armand, a character that has previously appeared in Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, The Queen of the Damned, and Memnoch the Devil.
Armand tells the story of his life to David Talbot. He details his life from his childhood abduction from his native Russia by slave traders during the Renaissance era, to modern day (1998, to be specific).
I will admit, I've never really been fond of Armand as a character. However, I do respect that this book does humanize him a bit more. Some of this is helped by the introduction to two new characters who become like family to Armand. Also, if you are concerned about the book repeating information, don't be. Any information that was already revealed in prior books, if touched on at all, is either viewed from a different angle or mentioned briefly.
Although I'm not fond of Memnoch the Devil, one thing I will give this book credit for is the depiction of how the events of that book affected Armand on an emotional and mental level. Armand was raised as a Christian and what occurred with Lestat in Memnoch the Devil did affect him profoundly.
The ending of the book was not a surprise to me. I don't exactly call it a negative, but I'll just say one thing: if you get to the final portion of the book and you suspect the fate of a couple specific characters, you are most likely correct in that assumption. It didn't ruin the ending for me, but it may for some.
Overall, this book did not change my view of Armand, but I do have a somewhat greater respect for him as a character. And that makes a worthwhile book to read in my mind.
Armand tells the story of his life to David Talbot. He details his life from his childhood abduction from his native Russia by slave traders during the Renaissance era, to modern day (1998, to be specific).
I will admit, I've never really been fond of Armand as a character. However, I do respect that this book does humanize him a bit more. Some of this is helped by the introduction to two new characters who become like family to Armand. Also, if you are concerned about the book repeating information, don't be. Any information that was already revealed in prior books, if touched on at all, is either viewed from a different angle or mentioned briefly.
Although I'm not fond of Memnoch the Devil, one thing I will give this book credit for is the depiction of how the events of that book affected Armand on an emotional and mental level. Armand was raised as a Christian and what occurred with Lestat in Memnoch the Devil did affect him profoundly.
The ending of the book was not a surprise to me. I don't exactly call it a negative, but I'll just say one thing: if you get to the final portion of the book and you suspect the fate of a couple specific characters, you are most likely correct in that assumption. It didn't ruin the ending for me, but it may for some.
Overall, this book did not change my view of Armand, but I do have a somewhat greater respect for him as a character. And that makes a worthwhile book to read in my mind.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
Let Me in by John Ajvide Lindqvist
The book is a bit slow, but this not a bad thing. The author spends time in the shoes of many characters, major and minor, and uses their senses to describe the surroundings. He manages to paint a clear picture of the setting and characters you follow, and by the end of the book you feel almost like you have been there and knew the characters as real people.
Oskar gets bullied so much, you quickly become legitimately concerned for his safety. At one point he starts taking boxing lessons so he can defend himself, which appears to work at first. But in fact, it makes matters worse, as the bullies in turn step up their game. There are multiple times where the bullies come just shy of outright killing him.
The book does a great job of humanizing Eli. Although she's forced to drink blood for her own survival, the book makes it clear she does it more out of necessity than desire. She is initially aloof in her interactions with Oskar, but soon befriends him. Eli herself has a traumatic past and part of her journey through the book is learning she doesn't have to be alone.
I found Lindqvist's approach to vampires to be quite interesting. He leans toward a more scientific approach, which makes vampirism appear more real. By the end of the book, there are three total vampires seen, with another being mentioned by Eli. One of them is undead, which is also justified via the lore of the book. Many of the "traditional" vampire weaknesses are on display in this book, most which are valid and make sense. But there is a weakness or two that seem to be present more for dramatic value than making sense.
I also want to make note of the translation work. Remember, this book was originally published in Swedish, not English. If I didn't already know this fact, there was no way I could've guessed it. The translator did an amazing job keeping the author's prose and voice, while also doing a fabulous job in the translation it general. It reads like an English-language novel. And as someone who grew up reading Japanese manga, some of which were translated poorly, I cannot heap enough praise on the translation.
With this book, Lindqvist has proven to me that he is an incredible writer. Let the Right One In has earned its place as not only one of the best vampire novels ever, but one of my all-time favourite books period. Full stop. I look forward to reading his other material in the future.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Let the Right One In (also known as Let Me In) is a Swedish vampire horror novel that is written in third-person omniscient point of view, and focuses on three characters:
- Oskar is a 12-year-old boy living in Blackberg, a suburb in Sweden's capital Stockholm. He lives with his mother, as his parents are divorced. He is mercilessly bullied on a regular basis to, from and during school, but he keeps this a secret from his mother so he doesn't give her cause for concern.
- Eli is a vampire with the appearance of a 12-year-old girl. She moves to Blackberg with her caretaker and ends up befriending Oskar.
- Hakan is Eli's caretaker, a role he volunteered for and has been doing for years. He often goes out to find victims and drain them of their blood so she doesn't have to out and put her life in danger. He often does this in exchange for some "affection." He is also a pedophile, so his chosen victims are often children.
The book is a bit slow, but this not a bad thing. The author spends time in the shoes of many characters, major and minor, and uses their senses to describe the surroundings. He manages to paint a clear picture of the setting and characters you follow, and by the end of the book you feel almost like you have been there and knew the characters as real people.
Oskar gets bullied so much, you quickly become legitimately concerned for his safety. At one point he starts taking boxing lessons so he can defend himself, which appears to work at first. But in fact, it makes matters worse, as the bullies in turn step up their game. There are multiple times where the bullies come just shy of outright killing him.
The book does a great job of humanizing Eli. Although she's forced to drink blood for her own survival, the book makes it clear she does it more out of necessity than desire. She is initially aloof in her interactions with Oskar, but soon befriends him. Eli herself has a traumatic past and part of her journey through the book is learning she doesn't have to be alone.
I found Lindqvist's approach to vampires to be quite interesting. He leans toward a more scientific approach, which makes vampirism appear more real. By the end of the book, there are three total vampires seen, with another being mentioned by Eli. One of them is undead, which is also justified via the lore of the book. Many of the "traditional" vampire weaknesses are on display in this book, most which are valid and make sense. But there is a weakness or two that seem to be present more for dramatic value than making sense.
I also want to make note of the translation work. Remember, this book was originally published in Swedish, not English. If I didn't already know this fact, there was no way I could've guessed it. The translator did an amazing job keeping the author's prose and voice, while also doing a fabulous job in the translation it general. It reads like an English-language novel. And as someone who grew up reading Japanese manga, some of which were translated poorly, I cannot heap enough praise on the translation.
With this book, Lindqvist has proven to me that he is an incredible writer. Let the Right One In has earned its place as not only one of the best vampire novels ever, but one of my all-time favourite books period. Full stop. I look forward to reading his other material in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Pedophilia
Moderate: Gore, Blood
Minor: Alcoholism
Dracula's Brood: Neglected Vampire Classics by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, M.R. James, Algernon Blackwood and Others (Collins Chillers) by Arthur Conan Doyle, Richard Dalby
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Dracula's Brood is a collection of 24 short stories about vampires and vampire-like beings spanning from 1867 to 1940. The book was edited by the late Richard Dalby, a literary researcher who also edited other similar collections on vampires and the paranormal. It features stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Algernon Blackwood, and M.R.James, just to same a few.
A nice little thing about this book is the small paragraph right after the title of each story. This blurb delves a bit into the author of the story and some of their works, as well as some additional background on the story you're about to read.
The book is not biased toward blood-sucking vampires. There are many stories of psychic vampirism, those that consume energy for sustenance, within these pages. Also, not all vampires here are undead. Many are actually living, breathing people. Others are ghosts. And there are even parasitic plants. Yes, plants.
As you may expect from a short story collection with multiple authors, the book is a mixed bag. There weren't any stories I disliked. Rather, there were some that just weren't up to the same standard as others.
There are four stories in particular that stood out to me, which I'll summarize here. A little teaser for what to expect, should you decide to pick this book up yourself.
The Man-Eating Tree by Phil Robinson (1881)
This story is one of three stories in the collection with parasitic trees. The narrator tells the story of his uncle, an adventurer who came across the titular tree while in Nubia, a region in south Sudan. He witnessed the tree attack and kill an animal and then his guide, before being forced to fight off and kill the tree in self-defense. Robinson's writing style was fairly digestible as far as Victorian English goes. Descriptive enough to paint a picture without going overboard.
The Parasite by Arthur Conan Doyle (1894)
It may be no surprise that this story of psychic vampirism by the creator of Sherlock Holmes is one of, if not the best, story in the book. The protagonist is a man who is highly logical, not believing in anything that can't be proven by science or witnessed with his won eyes. A female psychic proves her abilities to him and he becomes curious, offering himself as a test subject. For science, of course. When he learns that shady things are going on and he can't remember his sessions with the psychic, he accuses her and things start getting much worse for him. I did not expect the ending, and was genuinely surprised. Doyle's writing style was so good and so easy to grab onto, that I'm actually considering reading Sherlock Holmes, despite it being in a genre I'm normally not interested in.
Aylmer Vance and the Vampire by Alice and Claude Askew (1914)
Alice and Claude and a husband and wife author duo best known for their novels The Shulamite and The Etonian. Aylmer Vance is a paranormal detective and the story is told from the perspective of his assistant, Dexter. They are hired by a young man whose wife in cursed to become a vampire. It was descent story, and the only one in the book a detective story with the paranormal. It made my mildly curious about the other stories, but not enough to actively seek them out.
Princess of Darkness by Frederick Cowles (1940)
Cowles was best known for his short story collections The Horror of Abbot's Grange and The Night Wind Howls, which are rare and highly sought after. The story follows a man, a spy, who goes undercover in Budapest to get close to a mysterious woman named Gizella Bessenyei, who is believed to be behind the murders of several men. Out of all the stories in the collection, this one is the most like Dracula. It was improved in several ways, most notably a stronger presence of the vampire in question as well as a different ending.
Overall, this collection is worth the money and shelf space. There seems to be something in here for everyone. Not just for aficionados of vampire literature, but horror and paranormal literature in general. And at only $15.00 US, can't complain.
A nice little thing about this book is the small paragraph right after the title of each story. This blurb delves a bit into the author of the story and some of their works, as well as some additional background on the story you're about to read.
The book is not biased toward blood-sucking vampires. There are many stories of psychic vampirism, those that consume energy for sustenance, within these pages. Also, not all vampires here are undead. Many are actually living, breathing people. Others are ghosts. And there are even parasitic plants. Yes, plants.
As you may expect from a short story collection with multiple authors, the book is a mixed bag. There weren't any stories I disliked. Rather, there were some that just weren't up to the same standard as others.
There are four stories in particular that stood out to me, which I'll summarize here. A little teaser for what to expect, should you decide to pick this book up yourself.
The Man-Eating Tree by Phil Robinson (1881)
This story is one of three stories in the collection with parasitic trees. The narrator tells the story of his uncle, an adventurer who came across the titular tree while in Nubia, a region in south Sudan. He witnessed the tree attack and kill an animal and then his guide, before being forced to fight off and kill the tree in self-defense. Robinson's writing style was fairly digestible as far as Victorian English goes. Descriptive enough to paint a picture without going overboard.
The Parasite by Arthur Conan Doyle (1894)
It may be no surprise that this story of psychic vampirism by the creator of Sherlock Holmes is one of, if not the best, story in the book. The protagonist is a man who is highly logical, not believing in anything that can't be proven by science or witnessed with his won eyes. A female psychic proves her abilities to him and he becomes curious, offering himself as a test subject. For science, of course. When he learns that shady things are going on and he can't remember his sessions with the psychic, he accuses her and things start getting much worse for him. I did not expect the ending, and was genuinely surprised. Doyle's writing style was so good and so easy to grab onto, that I'm actually considering reading Sherlock Holmes, despite it being in a genre I'm normally not interested in.
Aylmer Vance and the Vampire by Alice and Claude Askew (1914)
Alice and Claude and a husband and wife author duo best known for their novels The Shulamite and The Etonian. Aylmer Vance is a paranormal detective and the story is told from the perspective of his assistant, Dexter. They are hired by a young man whose wife in cursed to become a vampire. It was descent story, and the only one in the book a detective story with the paranormal. It made my mildly curious about the other stories, but not enough to actively seek them out.
Princess of Darkness by Frederick Cowles (1940)
Cowles was best known for his short story collections The Horror of Abbot's Grange and The Night Wind Howls, which are rare and highly sought after. The story follows a man, a spy, who goes undercover in Budapest to get close to a mysterious woman named Gizella Bessenyei, who is believed to be behind the murders of several men. Out of all the stories in the collection, this one is the most like Dracula. It was improved in several ways, most notably a stronger presence of the vampire in question as well as a different ending.
Overall, this collection is worth the money and shelf space. There seems to be something in here for everyone. Not just for aficionados of vampire literature, but horror and paranormal literature in general. And at only $15.00 US, can't complain.
Black Butler, Vol. 2 by Yana Toboso
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This second volume of Black Butler, while it starts containing a couple of one-off chapters, begins the Red Butler Arc and introduces the first plot arc involving the famous serial killer, Jack the Ripper. As Ciel Phantomhive is Queen Victoria's "watchdog," it is his job to become involved. He doesn't trust Scotland Yard to be able to find the culprit, so he and Sebastian quickly set out to solve the case.
Two characters that were seen briefly in the first volume are formally introduced here.
The first is Lau, a Chinese aristocrat and the manager of the British branch of the Shanghai trading company "Kong-Rong." He also operates opium dens and is one of Ciel Phantomhive's "Aristocrats of Evil." He is permitted to conduct business in England's underworld, so long as he follows Ciel's orders to the letter. He joins Ciel and Sebastian in their quest to stop Jack the Ripper.
The second is the Baroness Angelina Dalles, Ciel's maternal aunt, who is also known as Madam Red for her red eyes, red hair, and habit of wearing lots of red in general. She is a doctor and thinks of Ciel like a son, as she can never have children of her own. She also joins Ciel in his quest to stop Jack the Ripper. Accompanying them is Angelina's incompetent butler, Grelle Sutcliff.
What follows is an interesting turn of events, in which Sebastian narrows down the culprit, forcing Ciel, Lau, and Madam Red to go undercover to learn more. In the end, Ciel learns that not only were they wrong, but the truth culprit was right by him the whole time. The volume ends on a with Sebastian about to go to battle against the true culprit.
Just like the first volume, I can't praise the art style enough. Toboso's style works well with the Victorian setting and her character designs are accurate and realistic for the time.
While this volume has some humour scattered about, it is more serious than volume one, due mostly to the nature of the plot. I like how Toboso took Jack the Ripper and remained historically accurate to what we do know, while still taking liberties to make it work with the story she crafted.
I look forward to seeing the conclusion of the arc in volume three.
Two characters that were seen briefly in the first volume are formally introduced here.
The first is Lau, a Chinese aristocrat and the manager of the British branch of the Shanghai trading company "Kong-Rong." He also operates opium dens and is one of Ciel Phantomhive's "Aristocrats of Evil." He is permitted to conduct business in England's underworld, so long as he follows Ciel's orders to the letter. He joins Ciel and Sebastian in their quest to stop Jack the Ripper.
The second is the Baroness Angelina Dalles, Ciel's maternal aunt, who is also known as Madam Red for her red eyes, red hair, and habit of wearing lots of red in general. She is a doctor and thinks of Ciel like a son, as she can never have children of her own. She also joins Ciel in his quest to stop Jack the Ripper. Accompanying them is Angelina's incompetent butler, Grelle Sutcliff.
What follows is an interesting turn of events, in which Sebastian narrows down the culprit, forcing Ciel, Lau, and Madam Red to go undercover to learn more. In the end, Ciel learns that not only were they wrong, but the truth culprit was right by him the whole time. The volume ends on a with Sebastian about to go to battle against the true culprit.
Just like the first volume, I can't praise the art style enough. Toboso's style works well with the Victorian setting and her character designs are accurate and realistic for the time.
While this volume has some humour scattered about, it is more serious than volume one, due mostly to the nature of the plot. I like how Toboso took Jack the Ripper and remained historically accurate to what we do know, while still taking liberties to make it work with the story she crafted.
I look forward to seeing the conclusion of the arc in volume three.
Black Butler, Vol. 1 by Yana Toboso
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Black Butler takes place in the Victorian Era and follows our two main characters: Earl Ciel Phantomhive, a twelve-year-old boy who inherited the family earldom and business after the deaths of his parents, and Sebastian Michaelis, Ciel's mysterious butler who seems to be capable of just about anything.
This first volume contains the first story arc, the Black Butler Arc. Four chapters that serve as an introduction to the supporting cast and allow us to learn more about Ciel and Sebastian. You meet the other loyal servants of the Phantomhive family: the chef Baldroy, the gardener Finnian, the maid Mey-Rin, and the steward Tanaka. You also meet Elizabeth, a girl the same age as Ciel who he is per-ordained to marry due to status. By the end of the book, you also know about the dynamic of the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian.
For anyone reading this who is new to the series, I will not spoil details. It is not only wonderful to see what Sebastian does when certain situations arise, but also the dynamics between himself and those he comes into contact with, particularly Ciel. By the end of the volume you learn why he is loyal to Ciel, and... you will find it interesting, I think. It definitely adds an extra layer to the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian. If the whole Victorian period setting doesn't pull you in, I think that revelation certainly will.
The biggest thing I enjoy about this series is the art style. It's very clean, very detailed, and very beautiful. From the clothing to the architecture. You can tell Yana Toboso did her research when it comes to the setting, and still maintained her own unique style and I haven't seen before this.
A fun start to the series with beautiful art, Black Butler is a good start for someone who wants to get into manga who loves period pieces. For those who are already readers of manga, I feel it will be a welcome addition to your library.
This first volume contains the first story arc, the Black Butler Arc. Four chapters that serve as an introduction to the supporting cast and allow us to learn more about Ciel and Sebastian. You meet the other loyal servants of the Phantomhive family: the chef Baldroy, the gardener Finnian, the maid Mey-Rin, and the steward Tanaka. You also meet Elizabeth, a girl the same age as Ciel who he is per-ordained to marry due to status. By the end of the book, you also know about the dynamic of the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian.
For anyone reading this who is new to the series, I will not spoil details. It is not only wonderful to see what Sebastian does when certain situations arise, but also the dynamics between himself and those he comes into contact with, particularly Ciel. By the end of the volume you learn why he is loyal to Ciel, and... you will find it interesting, I think. It definitely adds an extra layer to the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian. If the whole Victorian period setting doesn't pull you in, I think that revelation certainly will.
The biggest thing I enjoy about this series is the art style. It's very clean, very detailed, and very beautiful. From the clothing to the architecture. You can tell Yana Toboso did her research when it comes to the setting, and still maintained her own unique style and I haven't seen before this.
A fun start to the series with beautiful art, Black Butler is a good start for someone who wants to get into manga who loves period pieces. For those who are already readers of manga, I feel it will be a welcome addition to your library.
Codename: Sailor V, Volume 2 by Naoko Takeuchi
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This second and final volume of Codename: Sailor V, the prequel to Sailor Moon, follows the same kind of episodic format for almost the whole thing. Minako Aino continues her adventures as Sailor V. She not only fights the Dark Agency, but also solves crimes committed by regular humans. The villains of the Dark Agency, like the previous volume, are somewhat generic one-off characters that only survive for a single chapter.
There are some other characters we get introduced to. While these are also usually one-off characters, Mina ends up helping them out, willingly or otherwise. Such as a classmate with a heart condition, a manga artist, or helping her best friend collect money for charity.
However, a thread is introduced soon into the book with Phantom Ace, a mysterious young man who is much like Tuxedo Mask. He wears the same mask over his eyes but dresses in all white instead of black, doesn't wear a hat, and uses playing cards instead of roses. He is also an up-and-coming celebrity, who acquires many starring roles in shows and movies. He appears just in time to save Sailor V, but of course Artemis tells her to remain cautious. They have no idea if Phantom Ace is friend or foe.
One plus this volume has versus the previous one is in the pacing of the plot. You can tell Takeuchi had a much better idea of how this series was going to end by this point. You also catch more glimpses of characters who make their formal appearance in the first volume or two of Sailor Moon.
The art style and colours are still on point and just as strong as they were in the previous volume. Takeuchi has a style all her own, as it's hard not to stop and just stare at her beautiful drawings. The chapter art is gorgeous, even in black and white.
The only time the volume breaks the episodic mold is in the final two chapters. There are a lot of revelations here, so I will not spoil it for those who don't know. I loved how it ended, both how it was handled and how it alluded to things to come. It was a great lead in to the main series. Definitely more recommended than the first volume and worth a read.
There are some other characters we get introduced to. While these are also usually one-off characters, Mina ends up helping them out, willingly or otherwise. Such as a classmate with a heart condition, a manga artist, or helping her best friend collect money for charity.
However, a thread is introduced soon into the book with Phantom Ace, a mysterious young man who is much like Tuxedo Mask. He wears the same mask over his eyes but dresses in all white instead of black, doesn't wear a hat, and uses playing cards instead of roses. He is also an up-and-coming celebrity, who acquires many starring roles in shows and movies. He appears just in time to save Sailor V, but of course Artemis tells her to remain cautious. They have no idea if Phantom Ace is friend or foe.
One plus this volume has versus the previous one is in the pacing of the plot. You can tell Takeuchi had a much better idea of how this series was going to end by this point. You also catch more glimpses of characters who make their formal appearance in the first volume or two of Sailor Moon.
The art style and colours are still on point and just as strong as they were in the previous volume. Takeuchi has a style all her own, as it's hard not to stop and just stare at her beautiful drawings. The chapter art is gorgeous, even in black and white.
The only time the volume breaks the episodic mold is in the final two chapters. There are a lot of revelations here, so I will not spoil it for those who don't know. I loved how it ended, both how it was handled and how it alluded to things to come. It was a great lead in to the main series. Definitely more recommended than the first volume and worth a read.