Review – This House is Haunted by John Boyne

This House is Haunted by John Boyne This House is Haunted
By: John Boyne
Release Date: April 25, 2013
Publisher: Doubleday
Rating:


This House is Haunted by John Boyne is a wonderful, slow read filled with all of the wonderful bits of traditional gothic horror. Set in 1867, the story is told by Eliza Caine, a young woman who works as a teacher for young girls. When tradgedy besets her and her father, Eliza takes up a new position as a governess to two children living in a country manor. The children are odd, their parents are missing, something is wrong with the house, and none of the townsfolk will talk about any of it.

Review – Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

Wanderers
By: Chuck Wendig
Release Date: July 9, 2019
Publisher: Del Rey
Rating:


A tale of humanity and utter destruction, Wanderers by Chuck Wendig is a fantastic epic sure to please fans of multiple genres. What begins as a mysterious illness effecting a few hundred people soon spirals into much more as the entire country takes notice. This seven hundred page epic takes readers from one coast to the other on a journey that takes you right to the end of the world.

Review – The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

Front cover of The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami The Strange Library
By: Haruki Murakami
Illustrator: Chip Kidd
Translator: Ted Goossen
Release Date: December 2, 2014
Publisher: Knopf
Rating:


A small novella, The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami sits neatly in the space between fairy tales, the surreal, and magical realism. It is a short thing, barely 96 pages, with a great deal of artwork. But within that space lies the unknown, the unforgiving, and both the harshness and beauty of the world and people.

#MangaMonday Review – No Guns Life, Vol. 1 by Tasuku Karasuma

No Guns Life Volume 1 by Tasuku Karasuma No Guns Life, Vol. 1
By: Tasuku Karasuma
Illustrator: Tasuku Karasuma (illustrations); Evan Walding (touch-up art & lettering)
Translator: Joe Yamazaki
Release Date: September 17, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Series: No Guns Life #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


No Guns Life, Vol. 1 by Tasuku Karasuma is a seinen science fiction manga which has an anime adaptation airing this season, Fall 2019. In a future world, some humans have become the extended, people augmented with mechanical body parts which greatly increase their physical abilities. Juzo Inui is one of the extended, with a gun in place of a head. He is a Resolver, solving conflicts between the extended and regular humans.

#UltimateBlogTour – Sapphire Smythe by R.J. Furness

Sapphire Smythe
By: R.J. Furness
Release Date: March 16, 2019
Publisher: Orgo Press
Series: Sapphire Smyth and the Shadow of Four
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Shadows by R.J. Furness is the first serialized novel set within the Sapphire Smyth and the Shadow of Five series, which is named after the main character. This is a YA fantasy novel set in the modern day.

Review – Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, Wendy Xu, and Joamette Gil

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu front cover Mooncakes
By: Suzanne Walker
Illustrator: Wendy Xu (Illustrations); Joamette Gil (lettering)
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Publisher: Lion Forge
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Family, love, acceptance, and trust are core themes of this graphic novel about a family of witches and a werewolf living in a small town. Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, Wendy Xu, and Joamette Gil is equal parts and exciting tale of witchcraft and adventure and heartwarming story of love and family that is sure to melt the iciest of hearts.

New in Shonen Jump – Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo

Spy x Family manga cover Spy x Family
By: Tatsuyo Endo
Illustrator: Tatsuyo Endo (Illustrator); Rina Mapa (Letterer)
Translator: Casey Loe
Release Date: September 22, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media
Series: Spy x Family
Rating:


Newcomer to Shonen Jump, Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo is an absolutely fabulous manga focused on espionage and growing, but false, family. It’s humorous. It has fight scenes. It has heartwarming moments. It has everything. New chapters can be read for free on the Shonen Jump website and app, or the Manga+ app. The entirety of the manga can be read for $2 per month on the Shonen Jump website.

Review – Ophiuchus

Ophiuchus Ophiuchus
By: Alexis Leriger de la Plante & Natasha Tara Petrovic
Illustrator: Alexis Leriger de la Plante & Natasha Tara Petrovic
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Publisher: Image Comics
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


A single volume graphic novel based off of a prior web comic series, Ophiuchus by Alexis Leriger de le Plante and Natasha Tara Petrovic is a story as colorful as it is steeped in science fiction and post-apocalyptic society.

#MangaMonday Review – Beastars, Vol. 1 by Paru Itagaki

Beastars Vol 1 by Paru Itagaki Beastars, Vol. 1
By: Paru Itagaki
Illustrator: Paru Itagaki (Illustrator); Susan Daigle-Leach (Touch-Up Art & Lettering)
Translator: Tomoko Kimura (Tanslator); Annette Roman (Adaptation)
Release Date: July 19, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Series: Beastars #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Beastars is getting an anime adaptation set to release this Autumn, on October 10, 2019. This is the manga which began the series and who’s adaptation will be shortly airing. Currently there are two volumes in print with a third set to release on November 19, 2019. Beastars, Vol. 1 is written and illustrated by Paru Itagaki. She is the daughter of Keisuke Itagaki, known for the manga and anime series Baki the Grappler.

#Throwback Thursday Review – Genkaku Picasso, Vol. 1 by Usumaru Furuya

Genkaku Picasso, Vol. 1
By: Usumaru Furuya
Illustrator: Usumaru Furuya
Release Date: November 2, 2010
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Rating:


An interesting manga with amazing artwork, Genkaku Picasso, Vol. 1 by Usumaru Furuya will defy whatever expectations you might have for it. This can be both good and bad. While having an interesting premise, certain aspects fall a bit short in execution. It is currently available to read in full on the Shonen Jump website for a two dollar a month subscription.