An avid reader who calls herself a bookworm. Feelings of attachment to fictional characters. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. My blog mainly concentrates on books, manga, and literature in general.
TITLE: Skip Beat!, Vol. 1
BY: Yoshiki Nakamura
SERIES: スキップ・ビート! [Skip Beat!] (#1)
RELEASES: November 30, 2021 by Berkley
GENRE: Comedy, Coming-of-Age, Romance
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 1 out 5
SYNOPSIS: When Kyoko’s heart is broken, she decides that revenge is a dish best served in the spotlight!
Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he’s casting her out now that he’s famous! Kyoko won’t suffer in silence—she’s going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!
Kyoko knows she's not plain and uninteresting, no matter what Sho says. With the help of a little makeover, Kyoko's ready to exact her revenge. But first she needs to land an audition, and she sets her sights on the agency where Sho's lead rival works. Her persistence pays off, but her broken heart turns out to be a disadvantage. Kyoko has lost the will to love anybody, let alone fans she's never met. Can the agency see past this problem to Kyoko's true star potential?
REVIEW: There is only one word to describe Skip Beat: trash. It blows my mind that this manga is still going strong.
In Skip Beat, Kyoko Mogami follows her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him as he becomes an idol. The only problem is that he has cast her out now that he’s famous! Kyoko will not suffer in silence: she shall get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show business!
The problem is that Kyoko is not a particularly talented person. A talent company hires people with specific traits (singing, dancing, etc.), so find one of those and refine it. It is not appropriate to stalk the hiring manager. Don’t threaten them. In an audition, you do not randomly show your cooking skills. Sorry, but it is not possible.
Instead, she should focus on developing a unique skill or persona that sets her apart. For example, she could work on her acting ability or learn stage presence. With persistence and proper training, she might eventually find success, even if it takes time and effort to stand out.
Kyoko’s desire to be better than Sho for revenge is admirable. However, the way she does it just irritates me so much.
There is something I dislike about the art style. I also do not think it helped with the plot. The character designs feel inconsistent, and the visual style sometimes distracts from the emotional depth of the story. While the art has its moments, it could better support the narrative by emphasizing key scenes and character expressions more effectively, enhancing the overall impact of the plot.
It is amazing that my younger self read this manga up to Volume 26. As I recall, I kept reading to see if it got better, but sadly it did not. Would I continue reading this manga? I am sorry, but no.
The manga’s inconsistent art and lack of narrative support make it unappealing to continue reading.
TITLE: A Shade of Dragon
BY: Bella Forrest
SERIES: A Shade of Dragon (#1)
RELEASES: December 8, 2015 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
GENRE: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 1 out 5
SYNOPSIS: Nineteen year old Penelope "Nell" O'Hara is geared up for the worst Christmas of her life. The guy she's been dating just dumped her for her best friend, and all she has to look forward to over the break is a stay in Beggar's Hole--a tiny frozen town on the coast of Maine--with her retired father, his latest masseuse girlfriend and her brattish fourteen year old son.
But one night, after storming out of dinner to take a brooding walk among the rocks, a misstep on the ice causes Nell's Christmas to take rather a different turn... She would have died, were it not for a mysterious, heat-exuding hero arriving out of nowhere to scoop her up in his arms, and warm and dry her body.
Coming to, Nell finds herself staring up into a pair of deep gold eyes. Eyes belonging to a man who is quite unlike any she's seen before. His features are chiseled yet sensual, exotic but somber, like something beautiful and wild threatened by extinction. All of six and a half feet tall, and two hundred plus pounds of pure muscle, her savior introduces himself as Theon Aena. His mere touch sends heat surging through her body, reaching down into her fingers and toes, even fluttering from her hair follicles, and his proximity to her brings about strange shudders of pleasure.
After a twist of fate causes her to cross paths with Theon again, Nell's drab, frozen Christmas soon spirals into a firestorm of passion, romance, revelations, and danger...
REVIEW: The first book to DNF in 2026.
“A Shade of Dragon” is a continuation of “A Shade of Vampire.” Neither book is good.
Reading this book was my attempt to give this author a second chance; I regret making this decision.
In *A Shade of Dragon*, Nell has to spend Christmas with her dad and her future stepfamily. During dinner, her dad made a negative comment about her mother. This led to an argument, which caused her to storm off. While walking on the beach, Nell makes a misstep, and a mysterious stranger comes to her rescue. When she gazes into the mysterious stranger’s eyes, her fate changes.
Lack of plot is the main problem with this book; action, there is not much going on. There is no chemistry between the leads. The characters lack development, and the dialogue feels forced. The story lacks depth, making it challenging to connect with or care about the events.
A second thing I felt about this book was how cliché it was. The book relies too much on clichés. This weakens its originality and makes the story predictable and dull. Common tropes, like the mysterious stranger saving the main character or the broken family, feel old. They lack a fresh perspective. I felt bored to tears halfway through and quit.
The book lacks a captivating story, which makes me uninterested in continuing the series.
Manga Review: Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Manga – Book of Savanaclaw, Vol. 1
TITLE: Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Manga – Book of Savanaclaw, Vol. 1
BY: Yana Toboso
SERIES: Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Manga: Episode of Savanaclaw (#1)
RELEASES: April 8, 2025 by VIZ Media LLC
GENRE: Fantasy
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 3 out 5
SYNOPSIS: Manga based on Twisted Wonderland, the hit mobile video game from Disney!
Stranded in the world of Twisted Wonderland, Yu must brave a magical school filled with ghosts, monsters, and uncooperative students!
Yu finds herself at Night Raven College, a school for magic users, where the staff and students are getting ready for the interdormitory Spelldrive tournament. It sounds fun, but Yu soon learns that intensity, intrigue, and fierce competitiveness abound!
REVIEW: Because this manga is based on a mobile game, I feel out of my element. My expectations for this manga were low because I had never played Twisted Wonderland. Having read this, it is an okay adaptation if you enjoy this game.
The series features a new title, yet it is still mostly a sequel, not a brand-new story.
This story is about Yu, a teenager who unexpectedly enters a new world. Having no way home, she enters Night Raven College, a magic school. The story introduces the characters from the game.
The narrative provides us with a flashback of Yu’s events. To get the most from this manga, readers need to complete “Book of Heartslabyul” and be familiar with the mobile game. There will be a lot of confusion in reading this manga.
Night Raven College is hosting a tremendous event. Almost everyone is looking forward to the Spell drive tournament. A student gets injured, which raises concerns. The Headmage suspects foul play and thinks this might connect to a bigger problem at the college. Yu’s investigation leads her to uncover secrets about the tournament and the motives of those involved. As she delves deeper, she discovers that the incident may not be as isolated as it first appeared.
A second problem with this manga is the characters. You can only understand the characters if you read the Book of Heartslabyu and play the game. Even though Yu was the main lead, she felt like a secondary character. Yu’s lack of depth as a character makes it difficult for readers to connect with her or understand her motivations. This weakens the overall narrative and diminishes the impact of her investigation. Without prior knowledge of the game or related material, the story feels disjointed and incomplete.
Some readers might argue that Yu’s lack of depth is intentional, allowing readers to project themselves onto her. As the main lead, her role could be seen as a vessel for the audience to experience the story from her perspective. The connections to the Book of Heartslabyu and the game might be viewed as enriching the narrative for fans who are already invested in the world, rather than a flaw in storytelling.
In conclusion, the manga’s appeal largely depends on the reader’s familiarity with the game and its world. Will I read the next volume? It’s sad, no? I do not think I will continue reading this manga.
TITLE: Cardcaptor Sakura, Book 1
BY: CLAMP
SERIES: カードキャプターさくら [Cardcaptor Sakura] (#1-3)
RELEASES: January 1, 2010 by Dark Horse Manga
GENRE: Magical girl, Romance
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 3 out 5
SYNOPSIS: Fourth grader Sakura Kinomoto finds a strange book in her father's library--a book made by the wizard Clow to store dangerous spirits sealed within a set of magical cards. But when Sakura opens it up, there is nothing left inside but Kero-chan, the book's cute little guardian beast . . . who informs Sakura that since the Clow cards seem to have escaped while he was asleep, it's now her job to capture them!
REVIEW: Sakura Kinomoto discovers an intriguing book in her father’s library—a book made by the wizard Clow for storing dangerous spirits intertwined with magical cards. As Sakura opens the book, there is nothing but Kero-chan, the book’s cute little guardian beast … Kero-chan tells Sakura it is now her job to capture the escaped Clow cards!
From my perspective, the plot left something to be desired.
This book felt very episodic because it was mostly Sakura battling the newest Clow Card. By half-way through, she had already found all the cards, and she spent the next quarter converting them all to Sakura cards. It felt excessively prolonged, and I wanted her to resolve everything.
The number of things I completely missed as a kid or that were completely glossed over in anime surprised me. Also, CLAMP is a big fan of taboo relationships. It is clear in the manga that Tomoyo’s mother, Sonomi, had feelings for Sakura’s mother, Nadeshiko, and that they were cousins. Toya had an ex-girlfriend who was a student teacher at his middle school. Also, there are many relationships between underage characters and adults. The most obvious one is Sakura’s friend and classmate, Rika. She is engaged to their homeroom teacher.
There are also Sakura’s parents, who married when she was 16 and he was a student teacher at her high school. As well as Kaho Mizuki, who loves Eriol. Despite being the reincarnation of Clow Reed, he is still an elementary school student. His physical form could at least have reflected that. Last but not least is Sakura and Syaoran’s crush on Yukito, who is a high school student. Also, I will let it slide since Yukito does not reciprocate their feelings.
The artwork in Clamp manga is gorgeous, and the omnibus edition contains a lot of gorgeous color artwork.
My overall impression is that this series has not always aged well. While it is marketed to kids, it contains some questionable content. After reading it again, I am surprised because I did not enjoy it as much as I expected. I hope this does not become a trend as I read more of CLAMP’s manga.
TITLE: RG Veda Omnibus Volume 1
BY: CLAMP
SERIES: RG Veda Omnibus (#1)
RELEASES: September 6, 2016 by Dark Horse Manga
GENRE: Fantasy, Drama, Adventure
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 3 out 5
SYNOPSIS: RG Veda, pronounced Rig Veda , is based on the classic Indian saga of the same name. The lush, sprawling epic follows Yasha, once a mighty warrior king, but now the lord of a slaughtered people he could not save. Yasha journeys the land as the companion and protector of the genderless Ashura, even knowing Ashura's fate is wound with doom for many. Together they seek the other four of the "Six Stars," whose prophesied gathering will at least defeat Taishukuten, the evil usurper of Heaven's throne. But all prophecies are open to interpretation...
REVIEW: Yasha, once a mighty warrior king, is now the lord of a slaughtered people he could not save in this lush, sprawling epic. As a companion and protector of Ashura, Yasha travels the land with Ashura, knowing his fate will bring doom to many. In their quest for the other four “Six Stars” who will defeat Taishukuten, the evil usurper of Heaven’s throne, they join forces. However, there are different ways to interpret all prophecies...
Despite all the hype from Clamp fans, this is a disappointment. It has a half-baked plot with flat characters. It’s hard for me to connect with any character. I do not understand why this guy was working for this person he hates, or why he keeps harboring this kid who causes him misery and periodically goes all evil-possessed and is supposed to kill him. I accept that this could happen, but give me a reason (even one that is emotional!) for him to do such a thing. An interesting story requires more than pretty illustrations.
This series is not for me. He needs to have some motivation or justification for why he would do such a thing. Otherwise, it’s just a nonsensical story. Unless the writer can present an interesting reason for it, I am not interested.
TITLE: CLAMP Premium Collection Tokyo Babylon, Vol. 1
BY: CLAMP
SERIES: 東京BABYLON [Tokyo Babylon] (#1)
RELEASES: October 17, 2023 by Yen Press
GENRE: Dark fantasy, Occult detective
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 1 out 5
SYNOPSIS: Tokyo―a beautiful yet cold city, full of life and twinkling lights. There resides Subaru Sumeragi, the thirteenth head of his clan and a powerful onmyouji. Aided by his glamorous twin sister, Hokuto, and the veterinarian who claims to love him, Seishirou Sakurazuka, he solves the supernatural troubles that plague the citizens of Tokyo―both living and deceased!
REVIEW: I am one of the few who do not enjoy Tokyo Babylon. When I read this manga over ten years ago, I was not feeling it. My understanding of the story’s content and direction is limited. I disagree on certain aspects. To begin with, the jokes are not funny, and I tire of them pretty quickly. Also, I do not enjoy the art, especially the action scenes. CLAMP does not depict events; instead, they apply speed lines to their pages. While manga encourages readers to use their imagination, there is not a lot for them to engage with.
It helps neither that the characters are not very interesting. Subaru Sumeragi is pleasant, but he is a pushover and has no real character and lacks depth. He often appears passive, responding to events instead of leading the story. Because of this, it’s tough to connect with him or feel invested in his journey.
The romance between Subaru and Seishiro is disgusting. Why is a 20-something-year-old romancing a sixteen-year-old? It has an unsettling dynamic. It damages any chance of depth in their relationship. The weak development in their interactions creates an exploitative and unconvincing romance. This damages the overall story. Having Subaru’s sister cheer for their relationship makes the situation worse.
Clamp’s early works irritate me for this reason. How they portray romantic relationships between adults and children. These portrayals can make unhealthy and inappropriate relationships seem normal. This is especially true for younger audiences, who are more impressionable. They may reinforce harmful stereotypes about love and consent. This can damage viewers' understanding of healthy relationships. Also, these stories can numb audiences to bad behavior. So, it’s important for creators to handle sensitive topics with care and responsibility.
World-building cannot enhance the story’s progress. It often discovers as a distraction. This slows the story and detracts from the main plot. Readers may lose interest if world-building does not connect to character growth or main themes. They might also question how it fits into the story. In this situation, as it pertains to me.
Do I recommend this manga to someone who is new to CLAMP? I would not suggest this manga to anyone. I dislike series that do not balance world-building, character development, and plot progression. A new reader might feel overwhelmed by this manga, especially if they are not familiar with CLAMP’s style. It might not engage them fully, making it a poor starting point for their work.
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