S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 25

Manga Review: Ne Ne Ne Vol. 1

The romance market is full of titles where an innocent girl is romanced by an older, sophisticated man. But how about if the older man is just as innocent as the girl? That’s the situation in the fantasy historical manga Ne Ne Ne. Read on for the review of Volume 1!

Back Cover Blurb

Awkwardly ever after! Married off to a man more than twenty years her senior, Koyuki has no idea what her new life has in store for her. She’s so in the dark, in fact, that she hasn’t even seen her husband’s face! But Koyuki isn’t alone in fumbling through the intricacies of wedded bliss. Mask-donning Shin might have many years on his young wife, but as it turns out, he’s just as naive as she is! Will this pair of innocents ever get past their awkwardness (and the age gap)?!

The Review

According to the writer’s afterword, the title carries the meaning of “nenne,” someone who’s young and unsophisticated or naive about sexual matters. That pretty much describes our newlywed main characters, even if one half of the pair has a physical appearance that gives the opposite impression.

That’s Shin, a man in his thirties. Because of his ability to see and attract the supernatural, he’s beholden to wear a half-face mask to avoid being possessed. And because of family interests, he’s beholden to accept an arranged marriage with Koyuki, a pretty teenage girl. Sounds a creepy lolicon set up, but it’s not.

That’s partly because the story’s set in Meiji-era Japan, but mostly because Shin, despite his age, is so clueless about romantic matters that he’s essentially a teenager in the body of a middle-aged man. Although Shin is a respected, accepted member of the community, his supernatural abilities (and mask!) have prevented others from getting close to him. Which means he’s unfamiliar with intimacy, physical and otherwise. Compounding that is his father-in-law’s threat to “rip [his] spinal cord from [his] living body” if he touches Koyuki before she turns twenty. As such, even though Koyuki and Shin are married from page 1, there’s absolutely no sex, and the consummation of their marriage looks like it’s years away.

Meanwhile, Koyuki is completely unaware of her father’s threat to her husband. But despite having no choice in her marriage, she’s fond of and fascinated by Shin, whom she views as utterly sophisticated. As such, she’s determined to be a good wife and frustrated because Shin, although he is kind, treats her like a child.

And there we have the basis of most of the comedy in the story. Both genuinely want the marriage to work and have growing affection for the other. However, because they’re new at that type of relationship, misunderstandings and awkwardness ensue. Koyuki is the type to wear her emotions on her sleeve, but Shin’s mask makes him appear calm and collected even when he not. So it’s a fun contrast between Koyuki’s impression of Shin and his actual panicked emotions when they get just a little too close.

By the way, there’s no strong story arc. Chapters are episodic, and their interactions mainly take place in a household context. Shin may be connected with the supernatural, but the narrative focuses on a very domestic relationship. So even though the couple has a pet dragon, Pochimaru acts like the family dog more than anything else.

Extras include six pages in color, the creators’ afterwords, and translation notes.

In Summary

Ne Ne Ne has a random set up, but it’s surprisingly cute and funny. Despite its unlikely cast, the awkward romance between Shin and Koyuki can only be described as innocent. If you’re looking for something sweet that’s set in a bygone era with a touch of supernatural, this title delivers.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Vol. 2

A few years back I reviewed My Girlfriend’s a Geek, which was about a normie guy dating a fujoshi. But how about romance between two otaku types? Wotakoi explores that kind of relationship, and you can read on for the review of Volume 2! (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

NOTHING VENTURED, NO XP GAINED Frustrated at the slow pace of their relationship, Hirotaka asks Narumi on a real date, with one critical stipulation: They can’t show their otaku sides at all! Can the two find something to bond over in the absence of games, manga, and anime? Meanwhile, Hanako and Taro revisit the origins of their own tempestuous relationship back when they were in high school, and even Naoya seems to be spending more time with a new friend!

The Review

As with the Volume 1 of the English-language edition of this series, Volume 2 is comprised of two installments of the Japanese edition (Volumes 3 and 4). Meaning you get 270 pages of Wotakoi for the $17.99 MSRP.

Japanese Volume 3 is a mishmash of various scenes involving different combinations of the four friends. Although Hirotaka and Narumi’s romance is the central relationship in this series, only Chapter 19 focuses on that relationship, and for some reason, Fujita-sensei breaks that chapter into four parts and intersperses them in between other chapters. The content itself is actually entertaining (the pair have a normie date at an amusement park, in which otaku behavior is forbidden), but having to read it divided up is a little weird.

For those familiar with the anime, Japanese Volume 3 covers the same material in the latter portion of the TV series, except for Chapter 15, which is an April Fool’s episode, and Chapter 19, in which Hirotaka’s friends try to freak him out with scary stories. As in the previous volume, the chapters poke fun at otaku idiosyncrasies, especially Chapter 17, where Narumi and Hanako have a fujoshi dispute, and Chapter 18, where the four friends go shopping together. Footnotes and translation notes explain obscure references, so as long as you are somewhat versed in otaku culture, these chapters are fun.

At the conclusion of Japanese Volume 3, Naoya meets a shy schoolmate who plays a significant role in Japanese Volume 4. I assumed Naoya’s role in this series was simply to serve as a contrast to the otaku adults’ excesses. However, Fujita-sensei has chosen to pair him up, and because this series is subtitled “Love Is Hard for Otaku,” our resident normie winds up with a hard-core gamer, Ko Sakuragi. Unlike the other pairings, this one is characterized by innocence. This is partly because Ko is shy to the point of being asocial and partly because Ko’s gender ambiguous name and appearance cause Naoya to mistakenly assume she’s a he. As such, their interactions are mostly Ko struggling to converse normally and Naoya treating Ko like a guy buddy.

Also taking up a chunk of Japanese Volume 4 is Chapter 26, the origin story for Hanako and Taro’s relationship. Like Chapter 19, this chapter gets broken up and interspersed through Volume 4. The anime touched on this subject, but the manga goes much deeper into showing them as athletes and how an otaku purchase got used as blackmail. If you are fans of this couple, you should definitely pick this volume up.

Extras include a ton of translation/cultural notes, character profiles, author’s afterword, and 18 pages printed in full color.

In Summary

Even though Hirotaka and Narumi are the main couple, most of the otaku romance takes place with the other characters in this installment. Hanako and Taro have a well-established relationship now, but a trip down memory lane reveals its contentious beginnings as well as the start of Hanako’s fujoshi habit. In addition, otaku gamer Ko joins the cast as Naoya’s new friend. For now the two are just gaming buddies (which is plenty entertaining given the difference in their abilities), but considering the title of this series, that dynamic is probably going to change real quick.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: A Bride’s Story Vol. 10

Kaoru Mori is best known for  Emma, an exquisite romance/slice-of-life set in Victorian England. Her latest work to be released in the United States, A Bride’s Story, is also a historical/slice-of-life but is vastly different than Emma. Set in Central Asia in a rural town near the Caspian Sea during the early 19th century, A Bride’s Story revolves around a young woman, Amir, who arrives from a distant village across the mountains to marry Karluk, a boy 8 years her junior. Volume 10 has been released, and you can read on for the review. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Karluk has left home to become a man! For four months, he’s off to learn falconry from Amir’s brothers, living with them at their winter camp. As his training commences, what will Karluk learn about himself, and Amir, in the process?

The Review

Now that Pariya is safely married, the focus returns to our original couple, Amir and Karluk. As one would expect from a series called “A Bride’s Story,” their marriage has primarily been told from Amir’s perspective. However, Mori-sensei makes an interesting shift by having Karluk live with his Halgal in-laws for several months.

This is an interesting turn of events considering the trouble Amir’s father brought upon Karluk’s hometown. Or perhaps Karluk used that past offense to pressure his in-laws into accepting his request. At any rate, Mori-sensei doesn’t spend time rehashing hard feelings. Rather, Karluk’s focused on growing stronger as a man so he won’t suffer the same indignity of helplessness that he did during the attack on the town. And Azel and his two sidekicks are quite willing to teach the boy their skills.

Thus, the narrative, which has explored several exclusively female realms, now gives a taste of a male-dominated realm. Karluk’s not a new bride, but he’s leaving the familiarity of home to join a markedly different community. Readers learn about the Halgal’s nomadic lifestyle as Karluk does, and his lessons in archery and falconry are informative as well as a feast for the eyes.

And of course, Karluk is hanging out with these fine male specimens because–even after all these volumes–he still looks like a kid. Which means his well-meaning wife treats him like a kid. The age gap is awkward for Amir, but it’s worse for Karluk. Although the two manage to talk through Karluk’s insecurities, I, like Karluk, hope he catches up to Amir soon.

Then the story shifts back to the luckless Mr. Smith, who has somehow reached Ankara in one piece. As he meets with his English colleague Hawkins, we get a picture of the military tensions flaring up in the region. Considering Mr. Smith’s lack of fighting skills and his recent run-in with bandits, I expected him to take his friend’s advice to return to England. However, he chooses to stay. While the scholarly basis of his resolve is somewhat unbelievable, it doesn’t compare with the astronomical improbability of his unexpected reunion with Talas.

Considering all that has gone wrong for Talas and Smith, both are overdue for some good luck. And obviously readers would also like for the pair to has a happily ever after. However, the previously insurmountable barriers of disapproving relatives and distance vanish in a flash, and suddenly, Talas and Smith are free to be together. While the circumstances that reunite the pair seem just a bit too convenient, uncertainty still shadows their future, especially with war brewing in the region.

Extras include Mori-sensei’s manga style afterword.

In Summary

After multiple scenes of girls embroidering their dowry, how about one of a guy hunting pelts for a bride price? Karluk goes to spend a few months with his in-laws, and Azel and Company teach the boy the skills required of a man in the high plains. Even though the series is called “A Bride’s Story,” it makes a fun shift to the groom’s perspective in Mori-sensei’s tale of Central Asia.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #20

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has a unique bent. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has released the 20th volume of this novel series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my reviews of previous Spice and Wolf releases).

Back Cover Blurb

After a short summer, lively with guests, the bathhouse Spice & Wolf greets the momentary calm that is autumn. The unusually enthusiastic Holo and an exasperated Lawrence want to have their fill of what the mountain-bound Nyohhira has to offer in autumn. After a walk in the mountains the two return to the bathhouse with a basket-full of goodies, and there is a crowd of people at the entrance. “I do not quite know what it might be, but it smells of many beasts.” The reason these sudden, out-of-season guests came to bathhouse Spice & Wolf is-!

The Review

This twentieth volume of the Spice and Wolf series is subtitled Spring Log III, but all four seasons are represented in the book’s five short stories. In addition to showing readers the rhythms of the hot springs village throughout the year, Hasekura-sensei also brings back some old characters in this installment.

The first story “What Falls in the Spring and Wolf” does actually take place in the spring. This is a comical tale involving the annual dilemma of Holo shedding winter fur and another fur-related problem connected to Luward, the commander of the Miyuri Mercenary Company. I never associated animal pheromones with fur before so it took me a while to grasp Luward’s predicament (and even now, I’m not sure what trusty assistant Moizi was doing to handle the situation while Luward went for help). However, the story is a fun way for Luward to return to the story, albeit briefly.

Then “The White Hound and Wolf” goes back a couple years to present a glimpse of the bathhouse’s busy winter season before Myuri left home. The narrator is a church inquisitor investigating rumors about Nyohhira’s newest establishment, and he is predictably suspicious and judgemental. However, he does provide an outsider’s view of the hot springs village and winds up exemplifying how Spice and Wolf charms even the most difficult guest.

After the stranger’s perspective, we get an intimate nighttime moment between the bathhouse owners in “Caramel Days and Wolf.” Not a whole lot of action takes place in this short story, but it is an entertaining character study. Those curious about the outcome of the journal project Lawrence proposed in the previous volume will see some of the results, and Lawrence also gets to show how much better he’s gotten at understanding and handling his wily wife.

Next is “Blue Dreams and Wolf,” the volume’s summertime tale and longest story. The tale starts off with a money related problem—namely a regional coin shortage—and takes on a religious and political bent when the remains of a retainer of a long-forgotten lord are discovered in a cave outside Nyohhira. These are all standard elements of earlier Spice and Wolf adventures, and I anticipated the ex-merchant and wolf to devise a tidy solution to solve everything, just like they did in the past. To my surprise, the story concludes with only a partial resolution to their problems. Instead, however, we get to witness Holo in an unusually vulnerable moment, which offers a different sort of satisfaction.

Finally, “Harvest Autumn and Wolf” has Holo and Lawrence abruptly receiving unusual offseason guests. At first, the story seems as if it will center around the novelty of entertaining a group made up entirely of non-humans like Holo. However, when the guests start telling their versions of Lawrence and Holo’s journey to the north, the focus shifts to the legacy the pair have created. And apparently, that legacy isn’t done. The way the story ends strongly hints that a new road trip is in store for Lawrence and Holo.

By the way, I’ve noticed that the descriptions of Holo’s physical form are somewhat inconsistent in this installment. In places, she’s described as looking like a bride of fourteen or fifteen, which is how I’ve always pictured her. Other places say she resembles a child “around the age of ten.” Perhaps something is lost in the translation, but the latter descriptions jolt me out of the story and make me wonder how Holo can get away with passing herself off as Lawrence’s wife even without the no-aging aspect.

Extras include the first eight pages printed in color, world map, seven black-and-white illustrations, and afterword.

In Summary

If you’ve wondered what life is like throughout the year in Lawrence and Holo’s hot springs village, these five standalone stories paint a pretty good picture. The content ranges from an outsider’s first impression of the Spice and Wolf bathhouse to Lawrence’s umpteenth year of dealing with Holo’s shedding tail. There’s no central theme that ties these stories together, but we do get to see how Lawrence and Holo’s matured relationship handles both the light- and heavy-hearted moments.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts Vol. #03

The theme of love transcending appearances is a popular one in fairy tales, and Yen Press’ Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts fits that genre. The fantasy manga tells of the relationship between a girl and her beastly fiance, and you can read on for the review of Volume 3. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Hoping to take vengeance for the murder of his childhood friend Sariphi, the young Ilya infiltrates the royal palace. He’s captured, and the King shows him mercy, sparing his life. When Ilya learns that Sariphi herself is still very much alive, he demands her return. Sariphi refuses, only to be kidnapped by Ilya, who intends to bring her back to human territory. The King is then confronted with a dilemma: If he truly wishes for Sariphi’s happiness, is it kinder to pursue her…or to let her be returned to her own people?

The Review

Previously, Anubis had presented Sariphi with a list of requirements in order to gain acceptance as queen. By the end of Volume 2, she accomplished the first task, and I assumed Volume 3 would usher in Task Number Two. Well…I was wrong. Instead of continuing to have Sariphi prove her worth to the skeptics, it takes a big detour by introducing Ilya, a human swordsman who’s in love with Sariphi. In fact, the entire volume is taken up by this young man’s efforts to bring Sariphi back to the human realm.

The sudden appearance of this childhood friend is somewhat jarring. Up till now, Sariphi’s never mentioned human friends of any sort and behaved as if Leonhart’s palace was the first place she experienced kindness. After she got kicked out of the human village in Volume 1, she couldn’t come up with a single person to help her. As such, Ilya feels like an afterthought.

Even if you can get over his abrupt introduction, Ilya’s hold over Sariphi’s heart isn’t strong enough to result in a real love triangle. The past that the two humans share do cause Leonhart emotional angst, but it’s equivalent to Sariphi’s self-doubt during the beast princess arc. Sariphi cares about Ilya, but she’s not attracted to him. In fact, even though Ilya’s love is patently clear to everyone else, Sariphi is too innocently dense to recognize it until he bluntly tells her halfway through the volume.

Because Sariphi and Leonhart’s bond is too strong for Ilya to create genuine romantic tension, Tomofuji-sensei gives him a tortured past to stir things up. If Leonhart is the broody restrained type, Ilya is the broody hothead. While Ilya’s personal tragedies arouse some sympathy and also shed light on human prejudices against beasts, his temper results in him roughing up Sariphi more than once, and I am not a fan of men manhandling their supposed love interests. As such, when the arc comes to a close, I’m quite happy to see Ilya go.

Extras include embedded author’s notes and the bonus manga, “The Beast Princess and the Regular King.”

In Summary

The story shifts from subjecting Sariphi to magical trials to putting Leonhart through the emotional wringer. The introduction of a human boy in love with Sariphi means Leonhart gets subjected to the same insecurities Sariphi suffered when the beast princesses showed up. Watching two guys compete over a girl usually adds excitement to a romance, but Ilya clearly never stands a chance of winning Sariphi’s affections so it falls short.

First published at the Fandom Post.

 

 

 

Light Novel Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil Vol. #03

The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime was a surprise favorite for me in 2017. With a title like that, I was almost too scared to give it a try, but conniving little Tanya turned out to be nothing like I anticipated. Yen Press has released Volume 03 of the light novel adaption, and you can read on for the review. (For reviews of other Tanya the Evil works, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Has Tanya finally done it!? The cushy office desk job assignment she’s been waiting for at the Military University is finally hers to enjoy. That is…until there’s a hiccup in her assignment!

The Review

With the third volume of The Saga of Tanya the Evil, we reach the end of the content covered in the anime. This installment also provides a much more detailed account of the fall of the Republican homeland than is depicted in the TV series. In the anime, the Republican Army’s defeat gets presented as a series of rapid action scenes that take only about half an episode. In the novel, however, we get all the nitty-gritty of Zettour and Rudensdorf convincing the imperial brass of their plan, Tanya’s thoughts as she speeds deep into enemy territory at Mach 1.5, and her anguish when the Empire fails to end the war. Most interestingly, the narrative includes an unwitting blow to a hidden spy complex that was completely excluded from the anime. Although I can see how production constraints would result in this detail getting cut, the Commonwealth’s espionage activities lends the novel a juicier political landscape.

Unfortunately, these intriguing additional layers are presented in Zen-sensei’s particular storytelling so it does take work to interpret the confusing parts and stamina to get through the dry and repetitive ones. As in previous volumes, a lack of setting details and dialogue tags in scene openers meant that I sometimes had to read a couple pages into the scene before I figured out which characters and which place the narrative had shifted to. For instance, Zen-sensei includes a conversation between angelic beings in the heavenly realms, and it wasn’t until I was over two pages into the scene that I realized there were more than two characters involved in the conversation. Also, the beings converse about taking action in the mortal world, but even after rereading the scene three times, I still don’t understand what they are plotting.

By the way, this angelic conversation is the first glimpse of the divine that we’ve gotten since Volume 1, and it’s the only one in Volume 3. Although Tanya’s rebellion against God is what caused her current predicament and she spouts plenty of venom against him, God doesn’t actually appear in the narrative much. However, that’s actually fine because Tanya’s personal circumstances and the geopolitical situation contain more than enough conflict to keep the plot interesting.

The last third of the book is devoted to the Southern Campaign. The anime ends with the 203rd’s arrival on the Southern Continent, but this volume dives into the imperial army’s conflict against the Commonwealth and the remnants of the Republican forces. A new character, General von Romel, gets introduced as the head of this campaign and a master of maneuver warfare. While I’m not certain whether he is intended to be a tribute to Germany’s Desert Fox, he does provide a fresh perspective on Tanya that the generals at Imperial HQ lack.

Extras include the map and fold-out illustration in color; appendixes explaining military strategy and history timeline; author afterword; and six black-and-white illustrations.

In Summary

After reading this volume, my general impression is that Carlo Zen has created a truly fascinating multi-layered plot—and I can’t wait to read the manga version of it. As with the previous volumes, his prose continues to demand quite a bit of effort on the part of readers in order to visualize settings and characters and to comprehend all the military and political forces at work. However, those willing to continue to investing time and energy in this series will be rewarded with Tanya’s gripping struggle for survival as her country spirals toward a world war.

First published at the Fandom Post.

 

 

 

Manga Review: Barakamon Vol. 16

The contrast between city and rural life has been a source of entertainment since the time of Aesop’s fables. It remains a popular subject in manga and anime today, and joining the ranks of Silver Nina, Non Non Biyori, and Silver Spoon is Yen Press’ series Barakamon. Read on for my review of Volume 16! (For my reviews of previous volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Life never seems to get easier for Handa-sensei in this funny, heartwarming slice-of-life series!

The Review

Handa may be the main character, but Hiroshi steals the spotlight for most of these chapters. This installment even includes sketches of Hiroshi at different ages in between chapters. So if you’re a fan of the village’s “ordinary” teenager, you won’t want to miss this volume.

It begins with graduation day at Hiroshi’s school, in which Yoshino-sensei uses the four-panel style she used for the Handa-kun series. And in the midst of parting words from educators, well-wishes from younger students, commemorative photos, and other classic graduation moments, Rina Tajima struggles to make a love confession to Hiroshi. However, Hiroshi is extraordinarily dense for an ordinary person, and Rina’s attempts to express her feelings get misinterpreted time and again. For those who enjoyed the comic miscommunications of the Handa–kun manga, Act. 115: ”Hiroshi Graduates” offers the same flavor of humor.

The book then delivers two brief, silly chapters about Handa and the village kids before shifting the focus to dads. Although it begins with Handa senior’s latest calligraphy piece, Act. 118 turns into a joint reflection between Handa and Hiroshi about their fathers. Then Act. 119 takes it a big step further with Handa pondering Naru’s relationship with her father as Yuuichirou Kotoishi mails a steady stream of one-line messages to the young calligrapher. We only got one glimpse of Yuuichirou before, and his postcards don’t provide any additional solid information about him although they do confirm his quirky personality. However, the mail exchange does prompt Handa to ask Hiroshi about Naru’s mom (something I’ve been wondering about this entire series). While Hiroshi also doesn’t have any concrete facts to offer, his reply does confirm that none of the villagers—with the possible exception of Naru’s grandpa—knows the true circumstances behind Naru’s origins.

Then Hiroshi retakes the spotlight with a barf-inducing roadtrip to a local landmark and finally his grand exit via ferry. Departures generally spark memories, and we get lots of anecdotes—both funny and fond—as friends and family give Hiroshi a ticker tape style send off. Personally, I’ve liked Hiroshi a lot, and I’m sad to see the village’s most level-headed member go.

Extras include bonus manga, translation notes, translated advertisements for Barakamon related merchandise, and another installment of “Barakamon News.”

In Summary

Like so many small town kids, Hiroshi’s been fixin’ to leave for the big city once he’s graduated, and that moment has arrived. Although the long-suffering teenager has gotten the short end of the stick time and again, these chapters do show how well-regarded he is among family and friends. So amid Hiroshi’s aspirations for the future are fond memories and comical last-minute attempts to make memories before he leaves home.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manga Review: The Royal Tutor Vol. 9

Rich, handsome young men, each with his own distinct personality…this type of bishounen cast is a staple in shojo manga. And if you like yours with a generous helping of chibi humor, you should definitely check out Higasa Akai’s The Royal Tutor. Read on for my review of Volume 9. (For my reviews of other volumes click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Prince Licht once again finds himself caught between his role as a prince and his desire to have some fun in his life. How will he react when the count offers his assistance?

The Review

Volume 8 ended with what looked to be the beginning of an extended story about Licht. As it turns out, this arc actually involves all our four princelings, plus it continues beyond Volume 9. This is a refreshing change from the episodic pace that the series has fallen into. However, the plot does build on the information and events of those single-chapter stories.

Volume 9 begins with Count Rosenberg once more slithering around Licht. The count definitely has the air of a villain, but his motives for meddling in the affairs of the younger princes as of yet remain unknown. Eldest prince Eins views his brothers with such contempt that it seems unlikely Rosenberg’s acting on his orders. As such, the mystery of the count’s true objective brings an air of intrigue to this volume.

Licht, however, has the sense not to trust the count, especially since he’s already gotten burned before. When changes with Cafe Mitter Meyer inspire the youngest prince to live in town, he’s careful not to accept Rosenberg’s easy deal for a place to stay. Instead, Licht goes so far as to limit his budget to his earnings at the cafe. Much like the time he was forced to spend the night at the cafe, Licht is confronted with the difficulties of life outside the palace as he struggles to form a plan for independence. But Licht has grown as a character and displays newfound fortitude as he seeks his father’s permission to leave.

This, of course, causes an uproar among the other princes. Not surprisingly, the most outspoken is straitlaced Bruno. But just when you’re expecting Bruno to begrudgingly accept Licht’s decision, he goes far and beyond mere acceptance. As a result, Licht’s decision has a kind of domino effect in the palace. Akai-sensei looks like she’s setting the stage for something big, and I eagerly await the next installment.

Extras include bonus manga celebrating the anime adaption and first page printed in color.

In Summary

The manga completely diverges from the anime with Licht choosing to devote himself to Cafe Mitter Meyer rather than compete for the throne. His decision sends shockwaves through the palace, but the resulting repercussions take the princes in a surprising direction. Between lots of character development and hints of someone acting in the shadows, Akai-sensei does an excellent job keeping readers engaged.

First published at The Fandom Post.

 

Manga Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil Vol. #04

The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime was a surprise favorite for me in 2017. With a title like that, I was almost too scared to give it a try, but conniving little Tanya turned out to be nothing like I anticipated. Yen Press has released Volume 04 of the manga adaption, and you can read on for the review. (For my reviews of other Tanya the Evil works, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Zero candidates was Tanya’s ultimate key to forestalling a new project that would send her to the front lines. But plans backfire after waves of applications from fresh, promising soldiers flood the office. And just when things couldn’t get any worse, the Elinium 95’s mind contamination begins to take effect on the young captain who-before realizing it-is now the official leader of a battalion?!

The Review

A recurring theme of this series is that, in spite of Tanya’s best efforts, nothing ever goes the way she wants. Thus, upon graduation from war college, instead of the cushy desk job she’s been striving for, her orders are to form a new mage battalion destined for the front. Shortly thereafter, her ploy to scare off prospective candidates results in a literal avalanche of applicants. Despite this continuously repeated pattern of attempt and failure, it doesn’t get old. That’s partly because the manga, unlike the novel, allows readers to see the disconnect between Tanya’s thoughts and those of the people around her, and mangaka Tojo skillfully uses those situations for maximum hilarity. And it’s partly because Tanya’s refusal to let fate (and Being X) get the better of her leads to amazing creativity.

In the case of Volume 4, most of those creative efforts are aimed toward a nightmare of a training regimen designed to weed incompetents out of Tanya’s battalion (i.e., her personal shield). The manga, like the anime, takes this opportunity to show off Tanya’s wicked side, and because the novel doesn’t provide much detail on Tanya’s boot camp, the manga and anime each have different versions of the pint-sized commander kicking her subordinates into shape. However, the manga version goes into more detail about the rationale behind Tanya’s intense regimen, and the manga’s explanations of the different combat formulas are vastly clearer than what’s provided by the novel.

Tojo-sensei definitely has a talent for taking what’s in the novel and bringing it up to the next level. In Chapter 11, Tanya’s concerns about her stunted physical development take her to the doctor. In the novel’s account of the doctor’s visit, we’re so much in Tanya’s head that all we see is her worry. The manga, on the other hand, shows how the adults perceive Tanya’s concerns, which makes for a livelier and more entertaining scene. Tojo-sensei has been doing this consistently, and I look forward to more of her work.

Extras include battle log so far, character introductions, detailed glossary of terms after each chapter, and interviews with cover designer Toshimitsu Numa and scriptwriter Satoshi Oshio. While the interviews are interesting, Yen Press used a teeny font for those pages, so reading is hard on the eyes.

In Summary

Those who’ve missed watching troops in life-or-death situations will once more get to see imperial soldiers fight to stay alive. And the funny thing is that they’re not even on the front. Dark humor abounds as little Tanya puts battalion candidates through a modern-era Hell Week. Even if you’re familiar with the novel or anime, the manga provides such a rich, detailed, and entertaining perspective of Tanya’s messed up life that you should still pick it up.

First published at the Fandom Post.

 

 

 

Just Published: Hidden Heritage!

I write historical fiction, but my settings gravitate toward the ancient. As such, my latest short story was a bit off my beaten track. Hidden Heritage is a tale about a family heirloom rescued from the ravages of China’s Cultural Revolution, and it’s available in Cricket Magazine’s February 2019 issue!

You can purchase this issue from Cricket’s website by clicking here.

The heirloom featured in my story is based off an actual heirloom featured in Michael Wood’s documentary The Story of China. At the time I saw the documentary, I didn’t think I’d use it for a story. Then some months later, I dropped by the Cricket Call for Submissions website, and when I saw the “A Willingness to Act” theme, the heirloom from the documentary immediately flashed to mind.

However, the due date was in three weeks, and I knew almost nothing about the Cultural Revolution (the documentary only spent about five minutes on it). Fortunately, for me and this story, my friend Shu does know Chinese history. Not only did she agree to help, she also recruited her parents, who lived through the Cultural Revolution.

[image error]It was a crazy three weeks of drafting, fact-checking, and vetting. I’ve never written so quickly about a setting I knew nothing about. But thanks to quick feedback from Shu’s family as well as my SCBWI critique group, I finished by the deadline.

And it got selected!

The funny thing is that even though I wrote this story in record time, its path to publication took over a year. I submitted it in August 2017 and received my acceptance December 2017, but it wasn’t until July 2018 that the edit rounds began. When they say you have to be patient in the publication business, it’s absolutely true. But the magazine editor was great to work with, and I’m pleased with the final product.

I hope you enjoy it, too!

As an added bonus, Cricket is on SCBWI’s PAL Publishers list. That means I’m now a SCBWI PAL (Published and Listed) member. Yay, I just leveled up!