Duels and Maid Sama
43. Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith. First sentence: The broken shutter in the window creaked a warning.
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Written by Sherwood Smith (sartorias)
Some points:
- I'm too impatient for the settings. It took me 2 tries to read through the first couple pages. Once I got through that, I finished this book in one sitting and jumped to the second one right away.
- I like Mel, the main character. Somehow I got an impression that the main character of this series is a boy, but it was Meliara - isn't her name pretty? She's smart and thinks for herself, head-strong and a doer.
- I had a hunch that she would be in love with Vidanric but she's too stubborn to recognize it and runs away.
Bottom line, it's a very engaging story - a definitely reread for sure.
Prequel about Vidanric
beauty and Court ship
44. Court Duel by Sherwood Smith. First sentence: "I stood at my window, an old but comfortable blanket wrapped around me."
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Written by Sherwood Smith
Some points:
- This book takes place around 6 months after the ending of book 1 Crown Duel.
- Apparently, Bran and someone else thought that they had left Mel alone long enough, now it's time for her to go to the capital and fight a different kind of battle - subtler and more dangerous.
- I like it that there was never a love triangle so I don't root for the wrong one. The idea of writing courting letters is the same as the shop around the corner or its remake You got mail. Mel was a bit too protected - there was no failure of her part - at court. That was my only complaint. However, given the book is only 200+ pages.
- Highly recommended. I like this one better than the first since I know the characters better.
- I found out there is a prequel - a story of the Marquis. I'm debating if I can wait for the paperback or should I go for hardcover.
Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoy the book - a definitely reread, in fact, I already reread both books this week.
45. 1 volume of Maid Sama! (Kaichō wa Maid-sama! (会長はメイド様! ,literally "Student Council President is a Maid!").
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Manga updates
Written and illustrated by Hiro Fujiwara
from Tokyopop website
The class president has a little secret she's keeping from the sexy bad boy in school... As President of the Student Council, the overachieving feminist Misaki really socks it to the guys in an attempt to make the former all-boys' school attract a more female student body. But what will she do when the sexiest boy in class finds out Misaki's after-school gig is in a maid café?! It's love at first fight in this shojo romantic comedy--with a whole new look at the battle between the sexes!
Some points:
- I like the spit-fire student president - she's funny.
- It reminds me of S.A maybe because of the art - even though S.A art is a bit cuter.
- It's funny how her enemies's conversion come about.
Bottom line, probably interesting.
Continuing series:
Random note, Kyouko Hikawa of From far away has a series called Otogimoyou Ayanishiki which ends in 5 volumes will have a sequel to it via ANN Otogimoyou Ayanishiki Futatabi (Otogimoyou Ayanishiki Again). I hope the series gets licensed since it was 8th in Japanese sales chart last month.