Book Review: Thicker than Water

Fiction: Thicker than Water
Author: Carla Jablonski
Genres: Drama, Romance, YA
Rating: 8.5/10

[Even though I loved this book, I found that the ending was absurd and disappointing. It was a story I couldn't put down and a story with an amazing plot and strong characters I could relate to. However, while I was so much into it, I (along with the main character) was fooled by its surprising twist, which I hadn't seen it coming..until this day. I still laugh about it, because it's something I never experience in a book and it's something I find unique in a way.]

The story goes like this: It's about a girl, Kia, who's mother is dying of cancer. Her father is a complete fool and is never home, and her friends can't help her because they have problems of their own. The only way to escape the reality she lives in is while cutting herself.

In the mist of everything, she is introduced to a goth world filled with vampire fanatics and people who enjoy living in the darkness. This world is something out of the ordinary. And while being a part of it, she meets the sexy and handsome DJ Damon, whom she instantly assumes is a vampire due to the world he belongs to and the mysteries that surround him.

Jablonski introduces us to a world where everything is not what it seems; that appearances can be deceiving; and that reality can be mixed with fantasy. There are some things you want to believe, even though it seems irrational or unreal. In this story, Kia is able to experience the feeling of being liberated by a world that is fake and make-believe, yet she refuses to see otherwise. The pain caused by her dying mother is unbearable and she wants to be set free. By confining her self to Damon and believing that he is a vampire, she grabs hold of an escape that she badly needs.

While reading this book, I was entranced by its plot and its mysterious characters. The method in which it is written will surely make you feel addicted to it. The intensity and the depth of the characters; the feelings and strong personalities, are so well described that every reader can understand what Kia is going through.

[The book is a painfully true novel about how the cruelty of reality can cause us to escape to a fantasy world where lines blur between life and death.]

By: Eli

Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Marked

Fiction: Marked [House of night Series]
[Book 1]
Author: P.C Cast + Kristin Cast
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, YA
Rating: 9.5/10

[The reason for taking 0.5 points away: I found the story to be lacking in some parts, but I did enjoyed reading it.]

I finished reading this book today and am totally looking forward to reading the second one and so on. The plot is very original - something I haven't read in a while.

From being a total outcast in her old school, to becoming the high priestess of the house of night, Zoey Redbird seems to have come to the right place. But the House of night isn't as peaceful or safe as her old school, as mysterious events happen and enemies begin to arise. Then, along with Zoey's new powers comes [the danger of living in a secret world.]

Overall, it's about a girl struggling to understand and fit into her new vampire school and about the changes that she goes through. An example is how she transforms from being completely grossed out by blood into totally liking it. Of course, don't forget meeting the school preps and getting to know the school's hottest guy, Erik Night.

The plot is interesting, the dialogue is of modern-age - funny and spicy. There are moments that leave you both laughing and crying, moments that take you from sadness to hilarity, and moments that makes you sigh as everything unravels for Zoey and her friends in the House of night.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this book to the core, mostly because I'm into every kind of vampire series. Since I am a devoted vampire fan, I am looking forward to the next books which I will surely be reviewing later on.

By: Eli

Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Twilight

Fiction: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, YA
Rating: 10/10

I finished this book a long time ago, but couldn't help letting go for its well-written plot and originality. From time to time, I go back to reading it because I can't get enough of it.

This is one of the best vampire books I have read in my life. Honestly, the characters are well developed and the story keeps you wanting for more.

Isabella Swan goes to Forks, Washington to live with her father, Charlie. Upon arrival, she starts to attend Forks' high school and thereby meets Edward Collin, the biggest mystery to be ever known.

After a series of strange events, Bella starts to question Edward's real identity. This is especially true after he saves her from a car accident, and the story only escalates in suspense.

Stephenie Meyer can seriously write a thrilling story with powerful characters. [Her imagery allows readers to imagine incredible scenes] and get a clear view of what's happening in the story.

Her characters are thrilling to the core, especially Edward Cullen, whose personality is strong and is easy to befriend. Bella, on the other hand, is a curious character and intriguing character.

It's easy to get in deep with the story, since it's easily understandable. The descriptions of the characters, setting and [plot flow together into a masterpiece]. All in all, I enjoyed reading this one till the very end.

Romance, action, spellbinding characters, and a story to die for.

By: Eli

Edited By: Annie

The Wallflower

Shoujo: The Wallflower

Mangaka: Hayakawa Komoko

Genres: comedy, drama, romance, shoujo, school life

Rating: 9.5/10

Who hasn’t read The Wallflower, otherwise known as Perfect Girl Revolution? I admit that I was addicted to it over the summer, [and have been impatiently waiting for updates ever since.]

Wallflower is about a girl, Nakahara Sunako, who used to care about pimples, hair, and clothing. Until, that is, when she gathered the courage to confess to an upperclassman that she had a crush on. He responded rather cruelly, saying, “Sorry, I only like PRETTY girls.” Rather than making herself pretty in response, Sunako loses faith in people and in the superficiality of beauty, including her own.

She refers to pretty people (bishounen and bishoujo) as “creatures of light.” She is obsessed with horror movies and blood. Her rich celebrity aunt is worried for her, so the aunt makes a deal with the (extremely attractive) guys renting one of her mansions: if they can turn her niece into a real lady, they can have free rent, but if they fail, they have to pay 3x the rent. Kyohei, Yuki, Oda, and Ranmaru are up to the challenge. While the four of them manage to make Sunako physically beautiful (occasionally, when she feels like crawling out of her shell), it is still difficult to cure her emotional outlook. The main problem lies with Sunako's attitude and interests (which she has no intention of changing).

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This manga just cracks me up - it's hilarious! There was one scene in the beginning when Sunako scares the bejeebers out of the four guys by crouching in the rose bushes. All of her fights with Kyohei and her constant nosebleeds whenever she sees a “creature of light” are beyond comical.

I have to admit, if you are the type of person who likes reading slow, extremely slow romances, this is it. It beats Ouran High School Host Club (romance started around Chapter 62…ish) and even Special A (Hikari FINALLY realized around Chapter 56 -I was about to throttle Hikari's denseness). There are about 87 Chapters scanlated on Mangafox right now. The first hint of romance was in Chapter 59. HINT. Not even an “I think I like her.” Just a hint.

Only now does the romance start flowing in. The first 85 chapters deal with how Sunako copes with the presence of four extremely hot bishounen around the house that forces her to lose copious amounts of blood. It is so sweet when she does start to have fewer nosebleeds and the four guys get scared out of their minds less and less.

As an artist, I also really like the art of this manga. The characters all have very prominent jaw lines, chinlines (if that makes sense :P), and foreheads. There are four things that captivate me in the art:

1. The body proportions. Sure, they are a bit exaggerated, but Kyohei just rocks those legs of his. They aren’t over-exaggerated like Gals! or Code Glass.

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2. The eyes. The eyes that Hayakawa draws are absolutely amazing. They have the dimensions of real eyes, only manga-fied and beautified. The lashes are so crisp and clear; the pupils don’t resemble black and white Easter eggs. It's just so beautiful to look at.
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3. The hair. I don’t know how the mangaka does it, but the hair is just so wonderfully drawn. Every single clump and strand is inked on. The tendrils and the bits that escape are tremendously realisitc.

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4. The hands. The hands aren’t beautiful or graceful. In fact, they are knobbly and kind of unproportional. But there is something alluring about them. Have you ever imagined a man’s hands? Kyohei’s hands are thin, long and strong. It’s really indescribable.

It’s an awesome shoujo, definitely in my top 20 mangas. Check it out :D

Note: There is also an anime out, though sadly, there is no feature on the impending romance. :'(

By: Berber

Edited By: Annie

Nobody's Princess

Fiction: Nobody’s Princess
Author: Esther Friesner
Genre: Historic, Adventure
Rating: 8.5/10

The first impression I got from this book was that it might be one of those horrid spinoffs of some fairy tale. Like Just Ella (though I enjoyed that one) or that one by Jane Yolen, Briar Rose. It had the word “Princess” in it, so don't blame one for making assumptions.

Of course, like most times, I was dead wrong. This book turned out to be about Helen of Troy. Yes, that one. The one whose face launched a thousand ships…supposedly. It was the initial blurb that drew me in:

“She is beautiful, she is a princess, and Aphrodite is her favourite goddess, but something in Helen of Sparta just itches for more out of life. Unlike her prissy sister, Clytemnestra, she takes no pleasure in weaving and embroidery. And despite what her mother says, she’s not even close to being interested in getting married. Instead, she wants to do combat training with her older brothers, go on heroic adventures, and be free to do what she wants and find out who she is.”

Okay, at first glance, I thought it was a tad presumptuous of the author to create our lovable, war-incurring Helen into some tomboy. But then I thought to myself, “Hey, it has a unique plot. Might be a good read.” So I followed myself on that instinct.

I’m what you would call one of those history nuts. I know way too much about Ancient Greece and the history of it too. This was the first time that somebody shone the spotlight directly on Helen. Sure, she was known as the most beautiful woman short of Aphrodite, but that was when she was mature.
In this book, Helen is portrayed as a tall, awkward, gangly girl. Can you imagine a girl like that growing into the Helen of Troy? I suppose that it was partially to extend a hand out to the girls who are reading this to say that even if you are tall and gangly, you might grow up to become extremely beautiful. I enjoyed reading about her escapades and her determination to get what she wanted.

The first few chapters really made a deep impact on me. I’m not going to reveal the whole book, but it has an epiphany where Helen, our cute gangly Helen, realizes that being beautiful has advantages. It’s disturbing to think that a seven year old girl can realize this so early on in life, but I guess it worked for her. She knew how to charm people with her smile and a flick of her hair.

The most surprising thing is how many of my preconceived stereotypes this book broke about Helen of Troy. She wasn’t blonde; she was a brunette. She wasn’t pretty from the get-go; people weren’t compelled to make her their bride when looking at her in her crib. She wasn’t weak and meek; the exact opposite actually. And she wasn’t dumb. Of course, I don’t know how many creative liberties Esther Friesner took with this book, so I’m calling these stereotypes “cracked” until further notice.

The level of reading is fairly easy. It would be advised that you know a bit about Greek mythology before reading, it would make the read more enjoyable. There is also a sequel now, called Nobody’s Prize.

If you enjoy reading historic novels, here are some recommendations of mine:

- The Black Stallion, Tim Farley: a very touching story about Alexander the Great’s courageous black stallion Bucephalus and his adventures with Alexander. This book actually brought tears to my eyes in the ending. People usually think of dogs as fiercely loyal, but who knew horses could be that loyal too?

-Troy, Adele Geras: a story of two very different but close sisters who lived in Troy at the height of the Trojan War. Romance, sisterly drama, and internal conflicts ensue! The book conveys very accurately what it was like to live during the time of war.

-The Red Thread, Roderick Townley: a girl keeps having dreams of her past life—no, her past TWO lives. She finds out that she was killed in one of them—murdered. But how can she forgive her own murderer when it happened 400 years ago? Like a tapestry, there are so many complex layers woven together in this story. It's like reading three plots at once - with them all joining together at the end

By: Berber
Edited By: Annie

Manga Review: Liar Game

Seinen: Liar Game [ongoing]
Mangaka: Kaitani Shinobu

Genres: Drama, Seinen, Live-Action

Rating: 8/10
Reason: The manga is still ongoing, but overall, I find the art great and interesting. The twists just keep on coming and there are still mysteries to be solved..

Summary from Onemanga.com:

Congratulations! You are one of the 1 in 100,000 people who have been entered in the amazing LIAR GAME TOURNAMENT! Along with the postcard there are 100 million yen in notes. That's the beginning of the Liar Game. When the game ends, in 30 days, you will have to return your 100 million. If your opponent steals them, he can keep them as a prize, and you will have a debt of 100 million...

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Even if it's ongoing, this manga deserves a mention in this blog.

[Twisted] Keeps you at the edge of your seat, with compelling twists that will keep you reading.

[Dark]-The mystery and madness...The characters would go to any means necessary in order to achieve what they want.

This manga will surely keep you interested. For fans of mistery (Death Note and such), you will surely love this manga.

You can't trust anybody and you can't run away. If you are not smart enough, then you will surely die..because you need to set up strategies in order to win the liar game.

In regards to the art - it may not be that great at some parts, but it keeps you in deep.

Similar mangas:
Deadman Wonderland
Rabbit [Doubt]

To read Online: LIAR GAME

By: Eli
Edited By: Annie

Manga Review: Beast Master

Shoujo: Beast Master
Mangaka: Motomi Kyousuke
Genres:Comedy, Romance, School Life, Shoujo
Rating: 10/10

Summary from Onemanga.com:

Yuiko Kubozuka is a high school girl who loves animals. Unfortunately, animals hate her and flee from her whenever possible. So when a new classmate, Leo Aoi, turns out to be a scary guy who resembles a wild animal than anything human, she is intrigued.....
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Hahahah!
I seriously have to tell you to read this manga when you have the time - it's short yet amazing. I laughed so much that my stomach began hurting.
I completely love it, it's hilarious. The art is amazing and the expressions are incredible.


Note by Annie: I remember reading this manga. Though I didn't finish it, it was pretty unique in its plotline and its ability to give its readers a light-hearted good time.

To Read: Beast Master
By: Eli
Edited By: Annie

Manga Review: Absolute Boyfriend

Okay, so I seriously hate this manga to the bottom of my heart, yet i love it and can't help liking it despite what happened...

Shoujo: Absolute Boyfriend
Mangaka: Watase Yuu
Genres: Shoujo, Romance, Sci-Fi
Rating: 8/10
Reason for Rating: The art and the story line were pretty original, but 2 points deducted for its abrupt surprise (and inability to fulfill my hopes).

Summary from onemanga.com:

Rejected way too many times by good-looking (and unattainable) guys, shy Riiko Izawa goes online and signs up for a free trial of a mysterious Nightly Lover "figure." The very next day a cute naked guy is delivered to her door, and he wants to be her boyfriend! Has Riiko died and gone to heaven? The cute guy turns out to be sweet, smart, a great cook, and lots more. And he looks like a million bucks, which is what he's going to cost Riiko if she doesn't return him in time...

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At first I thought this was a light hearted manga because it was really funny at some points - like the fact he acts really innocent and doesn't know the ulterior motives of the people around Riiko.

The perfect boyfriend was delivered to Riiko and now she has to pay a really big amount of money since she added things like "must speak many different languages, smart, strong.." and every other thing a girl dreams in her perfect man.

Yet this was a trial and so they didn't know for how long he was going to last. The big disappointment in this manga is that there was a sad and unexpected surprise at the end.

There was a drama made for this, though I haven't checked it out yet. It might be good, so go for it drama lovers.

Note by Annie: This manga has one of the most original plotlines I've ever come across. Though I've never been a fan of Watase Yuu's drawings (art-wise), I really loved the creative aspect of this series. Not only is Absolute Boyfriend super popular among readers, a Japanese drama has been made based on the manga (like Eli mentioned). By the way, does anyone else have something against pointy chins (in manga drawings), or is it just me?

To Read: Absolute Boyfriend

By: Eli
Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Girl, Interrupted

Non-Fiction: Girl, Interrupted
Author: Susanna Kaysen
Genre: Drama, Memoir,YA

At first i didn't pay much attention to this novel, thinking maybe it was just some book about a typical girl's problems. But then I thought "what the heck"and started reading the first page. It was the most original story I've read so far [in a long time]. How should i say it - it was raw literature, simply brilliant and hillarious to the point of tears.

Susanna Kaysen writes about her memories as a young 18-year old girl struggling in a psychiatric hospital where she was admitted apparently because she suffered from Borderline personality disorder. She tried commiting suicide and [slitting her wrists], from there, she met a psycologist and concluded that she had this kind of disorder.

She met various people [with whom] she became friends with.
Her memories of being in the hospital were something unique, [especially when] outsiders feared them. Due of the fact that they were different and suffered from a disorder, they seemed like they had been cast off to the side by society and their own parents just because they did things that weren't "normal" to most people.

Heck, what does it even mean to be normal?

It's special in its ability to make you think about greater concepts. For the most part, it's a brilliant memoir of a world we hardly know of. The world of Susanna Kaysen may seem crazy and scary, but inside the hospital everything is peaceful and free, as [described] by the author.

And maybe at the end, you'll find yourself asking if she really suffered from BPD, whether or not if it was a matter of choice, or perhaps she was simply questioning her own sanity.

By: Eli
Edited By: Annie