Books from February, March and April
Hah! I finally managed to get this massive, massive reading post written! Finally!
10. -12. Yoshiki Nakamura: Skip-Beat! 1-3
Kyoko Mogami has been taking care of her boyfriend Sho, who is on his way to becoming a popular young idol. Of course they are keeping the relationship secret, since the knowledge that he actually has a girlfriend would destroy his chances at success.
Then one day Kyoko learns that he had basically been keeping her with him only to have a sort of unpaid maid. Unlike some shojo heroines, she doesn't fall into despair and depression. Quite the opposite. She vows revenge and determines to win Sho in his own game and to become an even more popular and successful entertainment figure than he ever was. To do this, she does everything she can to join the talent agency which employs Sho's main rival, and to learn the skills to become a successful actress and entertainer.
What I really like about this manga is how completely batshit crazy Kyoko is, and how her obsession with winning over Sho affects almost everything she does. Her revenge fantasies are also hilariously over-the-top.
However, there are also glimpses of deeper levels to her characters. She devoted almost all her life into being Sho's girlfriend, learning skills that might please his parents or him, without really doing anything for herself. Now she is trying to figure out who she really is and what she wants from her life. She is also starting to realize that she might lack something essential because she spent so many years only thinking of others.
Maybe I should check out the anime as well...
13. Bill Willingham et al.: Fables 11: War and Pieces (graphic novel)
A lot happens in this volume of Fables, and I can't wait to see how the events of this book will play out in the future. Random: I love how totally badass Cindy is!!!
And continuing from that, I liked how the book took into consideration the change fable longevity might make in learning and perfecting her skills. A normal human only has a few decades to learn things, while she has had several centuries to become the master spy she now is.
The way the war ended and how Gepetto was brought into Fabletown in order to swear his oath as a citizen and get his amnesty really left me reeling. I think a lot of the fables won't be able to let go of the consequences of the war quite so easily as the amnesty might require and that this might still have a lot of spillover into the later stories in this world.
Also, I'm very interested to learn what Frau Totenkinder is up to, and I thought it a very amusing when one of the characters commented that she had proved surprisingly good in modifying Briar Rose's curse so that it might help with the war effort. Of course she was adept with the curse, since she was the one who cast it in the first place...
I don't for a minute believe that Prince Charming's heroic sacrifice was the last we've seen of him. Even though he might show some signs of nobility every now and then, he is like one of those rashes that might go away for a while, but always returns as annoying as ever.
14. Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zavin & Laurie Faria Stolarz: Love Is Hell
This is a collection of fantasy stories aimed at teenagers written by some popular new authors. I thought of the stories were okay, but I think I might have liked it a lot better if I were in the right age group.
15. C. E. Murphy: Hands of Flame
The third and final (for now) volume in Murphy's The Negotiator series brings closure to most of the major plots starting during this trilogy. Margrit Knight's entry to the world of magic caused changed to both her life and to everybody who came into contact with her, forcing them to change and to find new ways of connecting with the world of humans. Some characters and relationships are changed irrevocably by the events, but there is also new hope for the survival of the magical species that have survived and stayed hidden throughout the years.
It was a complete page-turner for me and I think this is my favourite series by Murphy (I've also read some of the Urban Shaman books - nice, but uneven - and the first book in the Queen's Bastard series - absolutely hated it) so far. I hope she will write some more stories set in this world in the future!
16. Bill Willingham, Matthew Sturges et al.: Jack of Fables 3: The Bad Prince and 17. Jack of Fables 4: Americana
Two more graphic novels featuring Jack's adventures. Jack is such a rogue figure. While reading, I was thinking that I might not really want to continue buying this series (I've only got the first two books - I read these while visiting friends), since these books are entertaining enough, but Jack or his exploits aren't really my cup of tea. I think I'll just stick to Fables instead.
18. Ted Chiang: Stories of Your Life and Others
After some urban fantasy and comics, I felt like reading something more thought-provoking, so I picked up Ted Chiang's short story collection. I very much liked all the stories and if felt very refreshing to read good science fiction for a change. I should remember to pick up more sf every now and then...
19. Patricia Briggs: Bone Crossed
I read this book while visiting friends, since she had bought the hardcover. The book continues right from the previous volume in this series, so it might be better to read the two of them together. Mercy is still recovering from events, and what I really liked was that this book showed that there is no magical way to suddenly be healed. It takes time and patience to get through something like that.
This book felt a bit uneven. The Stefan and Marsilia storyline, with the vampire politics didn't really interest me that much, especially with the way it ended, but Blackwood seemed a fairly creepy new threat.
I liked the way Mercy learned something new about her powers during the course of this book, and also of the new glimpses into the fae world. Even the stick had a role to play in this, and I looks forward to finding out more.
Baba Yaga's appearance and the way she mentioned that Mercy should be both punished and rewarded sounded fairly ominous.
I like this series and the characters in it, but it will remain a paperback series for me.
20. Maria V. Snyder: Magic Study and 21. Fire Study
These are the second and third books in Snyder's fantasy series. I've read Magic Study before, but reread it before the third book, since it had been a while, and I wanted to be reminded of what happened in it. (original comments on the books here)
Fire Study was a bit frustrating, since some of the enemies were obvious to the reader, while the characters in the book seemed wilfully oblivious. I also was frustrated by the way Yelena suddenly started running away from everything, pushing everyone away, and only right at the end accepted what and who she was. I guess she had to make the circle back to Ixia in order to confront her past in order to move on with her life, but still felt a bit unsatisfied with this book. Also, there wasn't enough Valek in it :).
22. Lucy M. Boston: The Children of Green Knowe
Classic children's novel where young Tolly goes to live with his grandmother's house, and finds adventures with the ghost children who used to live in the house a long time ago.
23. Sharon Lee & Steve Miller: Liaden Universe Companion: Volume One and 26. Liaden Universe Companion: Volume Two
These two volumes collect together stories that are set in Lee & Miller's Liaden Universe. Most of them have been published in chapbook form before this, though there are a couple of original stories as well. The stories offer insights into the various characters and events in the main books, and also offer some historical background stories as well. Must-read for all Liaden fans.
24. Jake T. Forbes & Chris Lie: Jim Henson's Return to Labyrinth, vol. 1 & 25. vol. 2 (manga)
This manga/comic is set in the world of the classic 80s fantasy film, Labyrinth. The story picks up several years after the events in the film. Just like he promised, Jared the Goblin King has left Sarah alone, but the same doesn't hold true for baby Toby, who is now a typical teenager. Or not so typical, since his wishes seem to come true and there are strange figures following him around.
One day he sees a small figure run off with his term paper and runs after, finding a secret door and passage in his closet that leads him to the Labyrinth. There he picks up a couple of companions, makes his way to the Goblin Castle, and suddenly finds himself named the next Goblin King. And that is only the beginning.
The first volume felt like it was still trying to find it's way around the story and the characters, setting them up while trying to connect it all to the film as well. Things pick up in the second volume, as Toby gets caught up in his new duties, is surrounded by both friends and enemies, and Jared goes off travelling.
This does look interesting, though it doesn't quite deliver on it's promise. At least not yet. But the story is still very much in it's early stages, so I look forward to reading what happens next, since the third volume should be out next month.
27. Yumi Tamura: Basara 1
This manga has been recommended several times, so I decided to finally check it out. When Sasara and her twin brother were born, it was prophesied that one of them was "the child of destiny" that would save the world from the cruel Warlords ruling the country. Everybody in the village thought it was Tatara, the male of the two of them, and while they were growing up, Sasara was always left feeling inferior.
But when her brother is killed in a raid, she has to pick up his identity in order to save her village. Later on, she has to keep up the role, since so many people believe in "the child of destiny" saving them, giving them hope to survive in the fight against the rulers of the country.
In the meanwhile, Sasara meets this strange young man called Shuri at a watering hole. She becomes attracted to him and even forms a tentative friendship with him, not knowing that he is in fact the Red King who is her mortal enemy. Just as he doesn't recognize her as the boy Tatara, who is leading the uprising against him. The Red King is the person who ordered the attack on Sasara's village and caused her brother to be killed.
The first book sets up the story and the characters well. I understand some people have been put off by the artwork, but, even though it's not my favourite style, it doesn't bother me too much, since the story seems very interesting.
28. SoHee Park: Goong - The Royal Palace, vol. 4 (manhwa)
More palace stories. Shin is clearly starting to feel jealous for Chae-Kyung's closeness with Prince Yul, even though he doesn't yet understand why he's feeling so strange. Yul's mother is scheming and trying to make both Shin and Chae-Kyung miserable, so that she can make her own son the next king. The young pair is, of course, making things easier for her with their miscommunication. Every time I read more of this manhwa, I feel like rewatching the drama, since the drama followed the story very closely.
29. Janni Lee Simner: Bones of Faerie
Both worlds have been left devastated by a war between the humans and the fairies, and left magic tainting everything. In 15-year-old Liza's town, children born with magic are cast or driven away. When Liza finds herself to showing signs of magic, she runs away from the town and her abusive father in order to find her mother. During her journey she finds out that magic doesn't always have to be bad and that there might be hope for healing after all.
This post-apocalyptic tale of faerie is a compelling, though rather dark story reminiscent of, perhaps, Holly Black's work (though not set in an urban environment). The world with it's wild, menacing forests and trees, the remnants of magic left behind by the war, and the people who are only now starting to find hope of change is very interesting and unique. I really liked this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
10. -12. Yoshiki Nakamura: Skip-Beat! 1-3
Kyoko Mogami has been taking care of her boyfriend Sho, who is on his way to becoming a popular young idol. Of course they are keeping the relationship secret, since the knowledge that he actually has a girlfriend would destroy his chances at success.
Then one day Kyoko learns that he had basically been keeping her with him only to have a sort of unpaid maid. Unlike some shojo heroines, she doesn't fall into despair and depression. Quite the opposite. She vows revenge and determines to win Sho in his own game and to become an even more popular and successful entertainment figure than he ever was. To do this, she does everything she can to join the talent agency which employs Sho's main rival, and to learn the skills to become a successful actress and entertainer.
What I really like about this manga is how completely batshit crazy Kyoko is, and how her obsession with winning over Sho affects almost everything she does. Her revenge fantasies are also hilariously over-the-top.
However, there are also glimpses of deeper levels to her characters. She devoted almost all her life into being Sho's girlfriend, learning skills that might please his parents or him, without really doing anything for herself. Now she is trying to figure out who she really is and what she wants from her life. She is also starting to realize that she might lack something essential because she spent so many years only thinking of others.
Maybe I should check out the anime as well...
13. Bill Willingham et al.: Fables 11: War and Pieces (graphic novel)
A lot happens in this volume of Fables, and I can't wait to see how the events of this book will play out in the future. Random: I love how totally badass Cindy is!!!
And continuing from that, I liked how the book took into consideration the change fable longevity might make in learning and perfecting her skills. A normal human only has a few decades to learn things, while she has had several centuries to become the master spy she now is.
The way the war ended and how Gepetto was brought into Fabletown in order to swear his oath as a citizen and get his amnesty really left me reeling. I think a lot of the fables won't be able to let go of the consequences of the war quite so easily as the amnesty might require and that this might still have a lot of spillover into the later stories in this world.
Also, I'm very interested to learn what Frau Totenkinder is up to, and I thought it a very amusing when one of the characters commented that she had proved surprisingly good in modifying Briar Rose's curse so that it might help with the war effort. Of course she was adept with the curse, since she was the one who cast it in the first place...
I don't for a minute believe that Prince Charming's heroic sacrifice was the last we've seen of him. Even though he might show some signs of nobility every now and then, he is like one of those rashes that might go away for a while, but always returns as annoying as ever.
14. Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zavin & Laurie Faria Stolarz: Love Is Hell
This is a collection of fantasy stories aimed at teenagers written by some popular new authors. I thought of the stories were okay, but I think I might have liked it a lot better if I were in the right age group.
15. C. E. Murphy: Hands of Flame
The third and final (for now) volume in Murphy's The Negotiator series brings closure to most of the major plots starting during this trilogy. Margrit Knight's entry to the world of magic caused changed to both her life and to everybody who came into contact with her, forcing them to change and to find new ways of connecting with the world of humans. Some characters and relationships are changed irrevocably by the events, but there is also new hope for the survival of the magical species that have survived and stayed hidden throughout the years.
It was a complete page-turner for me and I think this is my favourite series by Murphy (I've also read some of the Urban Shaman books - nice, but uneven - and the first book in the Queen's Bastard series - absolutely hated it) so far. I hope she will write some more stories set in this world in the future!
16. Bill Willingham, Matthew Sturges et al.: Jack of Fables 3: The Bad Prince and 17. Jack of Fables 4: Americana
Two more graphic novels featuring Jack's adventures. Jack is such a rogue figure. While reading, I was thinking that I might not really want to continue buying this series (I've only got the first two books - I read these while visiting friends), since these books are entertaining enough, but Jack or his exploits aren't really my cup of tea. I think I'll just stick to Fables instead.
18. Ted Chiang: Stories of Your Life and Others
After some urban fantasy and comics, I felt like reading something more thought-provoking, so I picked up Ted Chiang's short story collection. I very much liked all the stories and if felt very refreshing to read good science fiction for a change. I should remember to pick up more sf every now and then...
19. Patricia Briggs: Bone Crossed
I read this book while visiting friends, since she had bought the hardcover. The book continues right from the previous volume in this series, so it might be better to read the two of them together. Mercy is still recovering from events, and what I really liked was that this book showed that there is no magical way to suddenly be healed. It takes time and patience to get through something like that.
This book felt a bit uneven. The Stefan and Marsilia storyline, with the vampire politics didn't really interest me that much, especially with the way it ended, but Blackwood seemed a fairly creepy new threat.
I liked the way Mercy learned something new about her powers during the course of this book, and also of the new glimpses into the fae world. Even the stick had a role to play in this, and I looks forward to finding out more.
Baba Yaga's appearance and the way she mentioned that Mercy should be both punished and rewarded sounded fairly ominous.
I like this series and the characters in it, but it will remain a paperback series for me.
20. Maria V. Snyder: Magic Study and 21. Fire Study
These are the second and third books in Snyder's fantasy series. I've read Magic Study before, but reread it before the third book, since it had been a while, and I wanted to be reminded of what happened in it. (original comments on the books here)
Fire Study was a bit frustrating, since some of the enemies were obvious to the reader, while the characters in the book seemed wilfully oblivious. I also was frustrated by the way Yelena suddenly started running away from everything, pushing everyone away, and only right at the end accepted what and who she was. I guess she had to make the circle back to Ixia in order to confront her past in order to move on with her life, but still felt a bit unsatisfied with this book. Also, there wasn't enough Valek in it :).
22. Lucy M. Boston: The Children of Green Knowe
Classic children's novel where young Tolly goes to live with his grandmother's house, and finds adventures with the ghost children who used to live in the house a long time ago.
23. Sharon Lee & Steve Miller: Liaden Universe Companion: Volume One and 26. Liaden Universe Companion: Volume Two
These two volumes collect together stories that are set in Lee & Miller's Liaden Universe. Most of them have been published in chapbook form before this, though there are a couple of original stories as well. The stories offer insights into the various characters and events in the main books, and also offer some historical background stories as well. Must-read for all Liaden fans.
24. Jake T. Forbes & Chris Lie: Jim Henson's Return to Labyrinth, vol. 1 & 25. vol. 2 (manga)
This manga/comic is set in the world of the classic 80s fantasy film, Labyrinth. The story picks up several years after the events in the film. Just like he promised, Jared the Goblin King has left Sarah alone, but the same doesn't hold true for baby Toby, who is now a typical teenager. Or not so typical, since his wishes seem to come true and there are strange figures following him around.
One day he sees a small figure run off with his term paper and runs after, finding a secret door and passage in his closet that leads him to the Labyrinth. There he picks up a couple of companions, makes his way to the Goblin Castle, and suddenly finds himself named the next Goblin King. And that is only the beginning.
The first volume felt like it was still trying to find it's way around the story and the characters, setting them up while trying to connect it all to the film as well. Things pick up in the second volume, as Toby gets caught up in his new duties, is surrounded by both friends and enemies, and Jared goes off travelling.
This does look interesting, though it doesn't quite deliver on it's promise. At least not yet. But the story is still very much in it's early stages, so I look forward to reading what happens next, since the third volume should be out next month.
27. Yumi Tamura: Basara 1
This manga has been recommended several times, so I decided to finally check it out. When Sasara and her twin brother were born, it was prophesied that one of them was "the child of destiny" that would save the world from the cruel Warlords ruling the country. Everybody in the village thought it was Tatara, the male of the two of them, and while they were growing up, Sasara was always left feeling inferior.
But when her brother is killed in a raid, she has to pick up his identity in order to save her village. Later on, she has to keep up the role, since so many people believe in "the child of destiny" saving them, giving them hope to survive in the fight against the rulers of the country.
In the meanwhile, Sasara meets this strange young man called Shuri at a watering hole. She becomes attracted to him and even forms a tentative friendship with him, not knowing that he is in fact the Red King who is her mortal enemy. Just as he doesn't recognize her as the boy Tatara, who is leading the uprising against him. The Red King is the person who ordered the attack on Sasara's village and caused her brother to be killed.
The first book sets up the story and the characters well. I understand some people have been put off by the artwork, but, even though it's not my favourite style, it doesn't bother me too much, since the story seems very interesting.
28. SoHee Park: Goong - The Royal Palace, vol. 4 (manhwa)
More palace stories. Shin is clearly starting to feel jealous for Chae-Kyung's closeness with Prince Yul, even though he doesn't yet understand why he's feeling so strange. Yul's mother is scheming and trying to make both Shin and Chae-Kyung miserable, so that she can make her own son the next king. The young pair is, of course, making things easier for her with their miscommunication. Every time I read more of this manhwa, I feel like rewatching the drama, since the drama followed the story very closely.
29. Janni Lee Simner: Bones of Faerie
Both worlds have been left devastated by a war between the humans and the fairies, and left magic tainting everything. In 15-year-old Liza's town, children born with magic are cast or driven away. When Liza finds herself to showing signs of magic, she runs away from the town and her abusive father in order to find her mother. During her journey she finds out that magic doesn't always have to be bad and that there might be hope for healing after all.
This post-apocalyptic tale of faerie is a compelling, though rather dark story reminiscent of, perhaps, Holly Black's work (though not set in an urban environment). The world with it's wild, menacing forests and trees, the remnants of magic left behind by the war, and the people who are only now starting to find hope of change is very interesting and unique. I really liked this book and look forward to reading more by this author.