Lack of Activity ~ Pleading the Fifth

Life has just been crazy and yet not at the same time and I just haven't had the time or the urge to get on and post more. I really wish I could and I had but I can't and I haven't. I seem to read manga too fast and novels too slow (or just too many at one time which makes me super slow) in order to review. 


I was able to select a DAC for both November and December and I do have the next four DAC on hold (or on order) so hopefully they'll all come in soon. I have a nice pile of books I'm reading currently, mostly adult, and I would like to finish reviewing Chi's Sweet Home.


I think the best solution would be to just go on hiatus for the rest of this month, finish some novels up and sit down and review an entire series of manga and post it all next month. Cheers until then.

~ Darkitty

DAC IV ~ April: Ripper

Author: Amy Carol Reeves

Summary: A paranormal mystery involving London’s most notorious killer In 1888, following her mother’s sudden death, seventeen-year-old Arabella Sharp goes to live with her grandmother in a posh London neighborhood. At her grandmother’s request, Abbie volunteers at Whitechapel Hospital, where she discovers a passion for helping the unfortunate women and children there. But within days, female patients begin turning up brutally murdered at the hands of Jack the Ripper. Even more horrifying, Abbie starts having strange visions that lead her straight to the Ripper’s next massacres. As her apparent psychic connection with the twisted killer grows stronger, Abbie is drawn into a deadly mystery involving the murders, her mother’s shadowed past, and a secret brotherhood of immortals—who’ll stop at nothing to lure Abbie into its “humanitarian” aims.

My Review: While I've rather grown to like spins on the infamous Jack the Ripper, this one was slightly lacking in certain aspects. I hate to right off the bat put down a book and I did like it for various reasons, but over all it was just a light, quick read and since it was so short, it lacked description and detail in certain areas.

Characters: The characters were interesting and I was immediately from the get-go trying to figure out who Ripper was (I turned out to be half right). I found Arabella to be a bit too reckless and some the character relationships a bit dull. I think if a bit more research had been done to make this a bit longer and little more effort was put into the characters personalities, it may have been a better read.

Plot: While it was interesting how Reeves angled the story to try and explain the identity of the Ripper, I couldn't help feeling like I'd seen this angle somewhere before. Or it just didn't have enough depth to it to make it believable. And it just followed along at Arabella slowly got intermingled with the Ripper case. The area with her having visions of the attacks was extremely irritating. If we want to see what the villain is up to, we right in third person, we do not resort to visions. Whenever authors get that through their heads, I'll never know.

Disclaimers: We're talking about Jack the Ripper here, and Arabella works at a hospital, so there's some rather disgusting description. I wouldn't say though that it was thoroughly disgusting. I mean, we have her gagging and loosing super over what she sees and all we manage is a half hearted squirm. It's one of those instance where as much as I'd hate to read it, there just wasn't enough detail. I think there may have some brief language but it's the out-of-place kind. Another thing that bothered me about this book was when it got iffy it was all of a sudden, and didn't fit at all. Sensual wise it was tame, but there is some playful bantering/flittering and kissing and it just was such a short book and it just didn't feel right in that aspect,like it was thrown in just because. Later on we have it a bit more intense when Arabella gets attacked. Though nothing too risque happens, it just, yet again, feels out of place. As if these are the only factors that make it young adult level.

Favorite Character: William

Favorite Quote: N/A

Recommended: Older teens

Over-all Rating: ★★★☆☆

~ Darkitty

Next:
Blood Red Road
by Moira Young

Burton & Swinburne: Book 3 ~ Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon

Author: Mark Hodder

Summary: It is 1863, but not the one it should be. Time has veered wildly off course, and now the first moves are being made that will lead to a devastating world war and the fall of the British Empire.

The prime minister, Lord Palmerston, believes that by using the three Eyes of Naga - black diamonds possessing unique properties - he'll be able to manipulate events and avoid the war. He already has two of the stones, but the third is hidden somewhere in the Mountains of the Moon, the fabled source of the Nile.

Palmerston sends Sir Richard Francis Burton to recover it. For the Kin's agent, it's a chance to redeem himself after his previous failed attempt to find the source of the great river. That occasion had led to betrayal by his partner, John Hanning Speke. Now Speke is leading a rival expedition on behalf of the Germans, and it seems that the battle between the former friends my ignite the very war that Palmerston is trying to avoid!

My Review: I've liked these books better and better, but with Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon, I wasn't entirely pleased with it. I mean, the graphic detail isn't something I enjoyed. I did like how Hodder was still throwing in time travel and still explaining things that happened back in book one. He's description and fun characters keep you reading till the end.

Characters: I find it amazing, I've never read the work of an author who thoroughly doesn't think twice about offing his characters. I mean you just read along, slack-jawed as one by one they "leave" the plot-line. But still, beyond that, they are all just as fun to read about, the good and the bad and those hovering in between.

Plot: I must say, some aspects where a bit predictable. I don't mean everything, but by now you should be very familiar with how Hodder is think and where he wants everything to go. I'm not saying the end itself but certain aspects were no surprise to me. I actually was a bit miffed when he decided to "dispose" of a certain character, but I of course I knew that was going to happen since the beginning of this story arc. Now just impatiently awaiting his next few books.

Disclaimers: I really believe these books have gotten more violent as they've gone along. I wouldn't say they've gotten worse in any other areas, but definitely with the gore. With it's setting in a wild Africa and the back and forth due to time travel, we experience firsthand the terrors of war with Hodder's vivid description. Truly not for the faint of heart. The profanity is still hovering where it always is and sensual wise, it's relatively tame. And as a side note, we're still mentioning Darwin here and there. And there was mention of one gay relationship but nothing intense.

Favorite Character: Swinburne

Favorite Quote:

“The four stern engines have gone wonky. I think it's something to do with the doo-dah forcing the thingamajig to bang against the wotsitsname. There's not much poetry in engineering, is there?”

~ Algernon Swinburne

Recommended: Adult

Over-all Rating: ★★★★☆

~ Darkitty

DAC III ~ March: Gilded Wings: Book 1 ~ Illuminate

Author: Aimee Agresti 

Summary: Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything changes when she is awarded a prestigious internship at a posh Chicago hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous strangers: the powerful and alluring hotel owner, Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit. 

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they're in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set's plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

My Review: With Illuminate’s premises, I thought that perhaps this book might have more to do with a fantasy element. I thought that fay might be involved. While I guess you could classify this as a fantasy, it didn’t have all the elements involved that I thought it might have had to begin with. Over all, and without spoiling how it truly unfolds, I really did enjoy this book. The writing style had just enough descriptive detail to make the characters and plot all flow nicely together. While I may have had a few minor issues with this book (like, the beginning felt a bit slow), I found them quite easy to overlook. 

Characters: The characters themselves were built rather well, or at least the important ones. While I did feel like some may have disappeared for too long or who’s personalities were not described well enough, I think that over-all they were portrayed nicely and effectively.

Plot: The whole idea of living in such a glamourous hotel made me think this would be a rather typical glitzy high school-out-into-society novel. Surprisingly, I found that I did enjoy it. Perhaps at times it felt a little slow or things felt off, I was able to enjoy it for the most part. The times where Haven spent exploring the hidden sides of the hotel felt a bit rushed and not thought out well to me, as if the author couldn’t spend enough time explaining why it was all really necessary. Haven’s blind faith in the notebook’s words was a little stereotypical to me as well.

Disclaimers: I do not recall much profanity, but if there was any, it was minor. Not to say that it was the out-of-place type. If there was some, it was placed appropriately and only on occasion. Violence wise, I wouldn’t label this book as gory, but the way in which the good defeats the bad almost felt alittle revengeful to me, alittle too ghastly. But only alittle. I was pleased that Agresti kept it tame otherwise, perhaps some of the affections were a bit over the top, but nothing to make the reader feel uncomfortable. There is one homosexual character, but his personality is playful and his interaction with Haven keeps the topic itself at a more subtle level, making his character more humorous and fun loving than guy-obsessed.

Favorite Character: Lucian

Favorite Quote:

“I guess we often want what we can't have. Isn't that a most basic trait of human nature? Isn't that why, for instance, you girls always go for the bad-boy archetype?" 

"Kindly refrain from saddling me with your generalizations, thank you.....Maybe we should discuss why it is you guys always jump at the icy, glamourous girls, the ones who descend from lines of giraffes and hourglasses who usually manage to show a lot of skin.”

~ Lance & Haven

Recommended: Older teens

Over-all Rating: ★★★★☆

~ Darkitty

*Next: Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon & Ripper*

Chi’s Sweet Home: Volume 1

Author: Kanata Konami

Summary: Chi is a mischievous newborn American shorthair who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, found herself lost and alone. When we found Chi it was clear to us she was completely distraught as she longed for the warmth and protection of her mother. Feeling sympathy for the little furball, we quietly whisked her away inviting her into our small apartment home...where pets ate strictly not permitted. While we dread parting with her, there is not way she can stay.

Little Chi is a happy and healthy litter-box trained kitten. And while she can be a little bit of a handful, she has been a great source of joy in our lives and a wonderful companion to our young son. Living with Chi has completely changed our lives, and we are sure she will have the same impact with whomever gives her a good home.

My Review: I absolutely loved, simply adored this series! But I’m a cat lover, so what can I say? With four cats, one can definitely relate to the comical experience of the Yamada's as they take in this feisty little kitten. Konami perfectly captured the personalities of the feline species in this sweet manga series, and it’s such a fun and amusing read, sure to bring a few chuckles.

Art: The artwork and style are simple, but perfect for this story and it’s intended audience. The cute characters and their expressions and interactions are easy and fun to follow along with. With colored panels, it’s all the more entertaining to see the manga world in bright detail.

Characters: The characters are fun, always bright smiles, or exaggerated expressions that just make you want to keep reading. Chi's character is extremely fun to watch as all her emotions are displayed vividly upon her face, from surprise, shock, anger, fear, or pure bliss.

Plot: This simple, but fun volume consists of twenty mini chapters. We follow along as Chi looses her way from her mother cat and the litter of kittens and stumbles into the lives of the Yamada's, who consists of mom, dad, and their son, Yohei. We get to watch as they try and get Chi comfortable in her new home, what with naming her, keeping her indoors, litter box training, feeding, and the ominous vet visit. And keeping her hidden from the Super, since they aren't supposed to have pets in their apartment!

Disclaimers: This is a children's manga, so it's clean and perfectly acceptable for all ages.

Favorite Character: Chi... KITTY!!!!!

Favorite Quote: N/A

Recommended: All ages

Over-all Rating: ★★★★★

~ Darkitty

***Next ~ Chi’s Sweet Home: Volume 2***

DAC Bonus ~ January: Everneath

Author: Brodi Ashton

Summary: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned - to her old life, her family, her friends - before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back - this time as his queen.

My Review: I don't generally select books with premises like these, but I must say since it was one of those rare occasions where I selected the book and didn't have a million people gushing about how good or bad it was, I was able to make a fair assessment of it on my own. And the truth is, I really did enjoy it. It's surprises like these that make the reading experience so much fun for me.

Characters: It is one of those lighter books, so there isn't alot of character build up. They do have depth, maybe not as much as they could have, but still enough to make you want to keep reading. Usually with books that sometimes revolve (or just include) the high school experience, I can find a bit dull or repetitive. Ashton did a nice job I think of not making it too monotonous or the center focus of the plot. Her characters were fun and I do look forward to the sequel.

Plot: It was interesting how she related the modern day elements of the plot and the fay part thrown together, not too messy and boringly like some books seem to do nowadays. It was just a perfect, subtle mix of reality and fantasy. A times I guess it could be just a biiit predictable, but not overly so. I mean, if we can't even guess at what's going on, the author isn't taking the right approach to getting the story across.

Disclaimers: I was really happy with this book, since alot of teen novels seem to throw in sex just because..... I liked how the author focused on writing a good story rather than trying to please the reader like that. It makes for a much more comfortable read, and I really wish more authors were like that. There isn’t anything wrong with the minor affections shown, it’s very innocent and tame, and I like it when they never take it any farther than that, because it just takes away from the heart of the story and is a complete distraction. There was just a bit of language and nothing too violent. Minor drunkenness, but it’s very comical actually.

Favorite Character: Oooh... Probably Jack, though I liked Cole, too...just cuz... =P

Favorite Quote: 

"Look, Nik, I know you don't like public scrutiny lately. If you stand off to the side, all mopey and such, without a date, you'll stick out like a nun at a strip club." He leaned in. "Trust me, I've seen one. A nun at a strip club, that is. Everyone was staring at her."

~ Cole

Recommended: Older teens & up

Over-all Rating: ★★★★★

~ Darkitty

Burton & Swinburne: Book 2 ~ The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man

Author: Mark Hodder

Summary: It is 1862, though not the 1862 it should be ... Time has been altered, and Sir Richard Francis Burton, the king's agent, is one of the few people who know that the world is now careening along a very different course from that which Destiny intended. When a clockwork-powered man of brass is found abandoned in Trafalgar Square, Burton and his assistant, the wayward poet Algernon Swinburne, find themselves on the trail of the stolen Garnier Collection—black diamonds rumored to be fragments of the Lemurian Eye of Naga, a meteorite that fell to Earth in prehistoric times. His investigation leads to involvement with the media sensation of the age: the Tichborne Claimant, a man who insists that he's the long lost heir to the cursed Tichborne estate. Monstrous, bloated, and monosyllabic, he's not the aristocratic Sir Roger Tichborne known to everyone, yet the working classes come out in force to support him. They are soon rioting through the streets of London, as mysterious steam wraiths incite all-out class warfare. From a haunted mansion to the Bedlam madhouse, from South America to Australia, from seances to a secret labyrinth, Burton struggles with shadowy opponents and his own inner demons, meeting along the way the philosopher Herbert Spencer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Florence Nightingale, and Charles Doyle (father of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). Can the king's agent expose a plot that threatens to rip the British Empire apart, leading to an international conflict the like of which the world has never seen? And what part does the clockwork man have to play? Burton and Swinburne's second adventure— The Clockwork Man Of Trafalgar Square —is filled with eccentric steam-driven technology, grotesque characters, and a deepening mystery that pushes forward the three-volume story arc begun in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack .

My Review: I actually really did like this book much more than its predecessor, which is usually a rarity with sequels for me. The imaginative plot, the vivid description, the thought provoking writing style, the engaging characters. I just really enjoyed this series, more so than I thought I would have at first. I think it’s gotten me into the steampunk genre, and I now have a few more I hope to pick up this summer.

Characters: I like how the historical figures are brought into the plot, and bent into these fictitious characters in an alternative Victorian era. It’s like you're getting just a tad bit of actual fact mixed in with the fantasy that makes it that much more engaging. I really like how Hodder’s characters stick true to their own personalities and you do follow along loyally, hoping all turns out well in the end. He also makes it perfectly easily to loathe the simply nasty characters and find the humorous ones all the more amusing.

Plot: The plot was just as imaginative, enticing, and amusing as the first, with laughs in all the right places and suspenseful build up in the characters many various excursions and adventures. While perhaps sometimes one might feel the chapters dragging on, I personally did enjoy the wonderful narration and description. It’s just one of those books you have to give some time for to appreciate it all the more.

Disclaimers: It’s still got that edge to it, so definitely not recommended for younger readers. While maybe the sensuality wasn’t as bad as the first book, the graphic violence turned it up a notch, and the language was about the same. I think it came to that point where the details were just a little too gory for my taste. I still enjoyed, but it’s one of those “ew...” moments, e.g. missing limbs, decapitation, zombies, etc. There is the mention of prostitutes again, but nothing explicit ever happens, and anything nasty is usually coated over with humor.

Favorite Character: Swinburne

Favorite Quote: N/A

Recommended: Adult

Over-all Rating: ★★★★☆

~ Darkitty

Mushishi: Volumes 1~10 (completed)

Author: Yuki Urushibara

Summary: THEY HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME. Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. Shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze, these deadly creatures, mushi, came into terrifying being. And they still exist and wreak havoc in the world today. Ginko, a young man with a sardonic smile, has the knowledge and skill to save those plagued by mushi . . . perhaps.

My Review: This is one of those more simple manga series and I loved it for that. There was never anything nasty or inappropriate. The story was simple and easy to follow along with, the characters and circumstances they constantly found themselves in strange, but interesting. The art style wasn’t too complex but it wasn’t terrible either, and after a few volumes I didn’t find it hard to boost it to four stars. It was a manga series that would probably never be that popular, but that’s what I liked about it. The simplicity.

These strange entities, the mushi, are what plague this manga’s world as the antagonists. Ginko, a mushishi, is able to spot and usually save the people tortured by these little creatures. Usually...

Art: I have to say, the art was rather simple, but it was also rather unusual. I guess original is the best term for it here. It wasn’t sharp nor was it extremely rough. The texture had a gentle feel to it, very nice to look at, nothing extraordinary. But it’s that simplicity that makes it stand out so well.

Characters: We truly only follow along as Ginko wanders through his world, unable to stay in one place for very long. While he does have a select few people he comes into contact with more than once, he really only ever stays long enough for a misadventure and then off he goes again. With each chapter it’s own story, the set up itself reminded me of The Nightmare Inspector, with all it’s strangeness and plot hopping.

Plot: The plot was easy enough to follow along after since it's such a simple story. No kick-a** battle scenes, nothing disturbing or gruesome. I liked that. Now for those who need more action, I can expect a few yawns, but this was a nice break for me in my manga reading, hence I enjoyed it alot more than most people probably would. Either way, I found it interesting.

Disclaimers: While it has been some time since I first picked up the first volume, I can recall barely anything to disclaim about in all 10 volumes. If there was profanity, I hardly even noticed. If there was violence, there wasn’t much blood and gore. There wasn’t any sensual material to worry about so it’s a perfect manga for younger readers. Though the plot isn’t too complex, sometimes their conversations may drag on and bore those with small attention spans.

Favorite Character: Ginko

Favorite Quote: N/A

Recommended: Young teens & up

Over-all Rating: ★★★★☆

~ Darkitty

***Next ~ Chi’s Sweet Home: volumes 1~8 (ongoing)***

DAC II ~ February: The Vanishing Game

Author: Kate Kae Myers

Summary: Jocelyn’s twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes—and now he’s dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from “Jason December”—the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn’s childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.   But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house’s powers weren’t just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.

My Review: I hate to say this right off the bat, but I’m rather disappointed with how this one turned out. It’s one of those books I was willing to give a higher rating, mainly because it was “ok” and I was willing to overlook things because the plot was over-all interesting. But nearing the end, I just felt like the writing style wasn’t completely up to par, the plot was a bit too confusing, too unrealistic, unbelievable, and ended lacking...

Characters: I felt like the main character(s) were alittle too reckless and the plot trailing along behind is just so random and strange, that it's rather hard to actually relate to them. I kept comparing the style to other books I've read, bad habit, and it's just not something I could easily recommend. Nice quick read, but if you can't really concern yourself with the characters, is it worth it? Everyone just felt a bit unstable, like they'd snap with the least amount of pressure. I was more anxious to see if they ever found Jack than anything else...

Plot: It's like it's trying to be creepy, but there was just not enough time to build up to it. I think if the author had spent more time on it, it may have ended better. The plot has some surprising plot twists at the end, and while I do like suspense, I really don't enjoy surprises like that. If you can't even imagine something vaguely like the ending earlier on, there's something wrong. She throws in psychological elements but since you don't see it coming very well, it just seems out of place.

Disclaimers: There's a bit of violence, a mix between some rather disturbed kids trying to kill each other and some nut after them. I don't think there's really every any discernment between the male and female, so Jocey gets attacked alot, between knife wielding gothic punks and those who long to strangle her. There's a couple deaths throughout, but it's never actually gory. There isn't too much language and the interactions between the two main characters are pretty clean, thankfully.

Favorite Character: Noah

Favorite Quote: N/A

Recommended: Teens

Over-all Rating: ★★★☆☆

~ Darkitty

*Next ~ The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man & Everneath*

Inactivity

I wasn’t as active as I would have liked to have been last month. I know that I sometimes contradict what I say I’m going to review but it’s truly only a vague idea of what I would like to review next. I’ve also noticed with manga you could review each individual volume instead of the series as a whole, so I’m considering doing that soon, perhaps re-reviewing some series I’ve already done. I’m still experimenting with this whole blog thing. Sometimes I feel like my ratings change after I review a book and sometimes my reviews feel too vague for me. I’m still working on it all. I don’t think I’ll ever review a manga series as long as say Bleach or Naruto, (plus you can’t pay me to reread them) but we shall see. I’d also like to just stick with reviewing completed series or if it’s ongoing, one at a time, unless there’s like over 10 volumes already or it’s relatively short or I dunno, because I’m indecisive like that. So I’ll be starting with Chi’s Sweet Home next month since I think it would be very easy to reread through and they’re short enough to combine the review... After that though, I’m just not sure at this point what I want to review next... I may re-re-read through either Black Butler or Pandora Hearts, and review them one volume at a time for starters. I’ve got a nice pile of novels to read next month so hopefully I can squeeze in more reviews after Finals. I’d like to have at least one manga volume and one novel review every week, or every other week at the least. :)

~ Darkitty