#ThrowbackThursday Review – Slayers: The Ghost of Sairaag by Hajime Kanzaka

Slayers: The Ghost of Sairaag
By: Hajime Kanzaka
Release Date: (Original Japanese 1991); (English Translation) March 8, 2005
Publisher: TokyoPop
Series: Slayers #3
Rating:


I really wish these books were still being translated. The series is a lot of fun, and the books don’t disappoint. This is actually the second time I’ve read The Ghost of Sairaag by Hajime Kanzaka in only a few months. I’d originally started it less than a week before moving, so of course the book got packed away in a box I couldn’t find upon move in, the last chapter still unread. At this point I figured I may as well read the whole thing over again, something I’m never against when it’s one of my favorite series.

Review – your name. by Matoko Shinkai

your name.
By: Matoko Shinkai
Illustrator: Ranmaru Kotone
Translator: Taylor Engel
Website: http://shinkaimakoto.jp/
Release Date: (Original Japanese) June 18 2016; (English Translation) May 23, 2017
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating:


I almost always read the book before I watch the movie. In this case it happened purely on accident. I wound up picking up a copy of your name. by Makoto Shinkai from Barnes and Noble during a buy two get one free sale.

Review – Urban Enemies edited by Joseph Nassise

Urban Enemies
By: (Editor) Joseph Nassise
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Publisher: Gallery Books
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Villains are intriguing characters. I’ve always liked a well fleshed out villain, one that’s a little more than evil cackling and petting cats. Urban Enemies, edited by Joseph Nassise and released August 1, 2017, is a book that definitely scratches that itch.

Throwback Thursday: Turn Coat (The Dresden Files #11)

Turn Coat (The Dresden Files #11)
By: Jim Butcher
Website: http://www.jim-butcher.com/
Release Date: April 17, 2009
Publisher: Roc Books
Series: The Dresden Files
Rating:


So, here we are, eleven books into the Dresden Files series. If you’re here, wondering if you should read this installment of the series, I’ll repeat myself from reviews past. Are you really going to give up on Harry Dresden now? Also, as a fun side note, this book is the last one I will be calling a “Throwback” as it’s currently 2017 and this was published in 2009. The book after this, Changes was published in 2010 and for me, that’s not as much of a throwback as the first eleven books in this series. 

Review – Attack On Titan, Vol. 1 by Hajime Isayama

Attack on Titan, Vol. 1
By: Hajime Isayama
Translator: Ko Ransom
Release Date: (English Translation) June 19, 2012
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Series: Attack on Titan #1
Award: Kodansha Manga Award for Best Shounen Manga (2011), 『エンタミクス』NEXTブレイク漫画ランキング BEST50 for 2nd place (当時1巻) (2010)
Rating:


This isn’t the first time I’ve read Attack on Titan Vol. 1 by Hajime Isayama. The first time was quite some time ago, right around when the English version was released. This time was because I’d picked up a used copies of the first two volumes in the series at a used book sale. But this is the first time I’ve read the manga with a more critical eye.

Review – Fragments of Horror by Junji Ito

Fragments of Horror
By: Junji Ito
Release Date: (Original Japanese) July 8, 2014; (English) June 16, 2015
Publisher: VIZ Media
Rating:


This book has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. Unlike the majority of the small library my husband and I have acquired, this one is his! Fragments of Horror is a manga filled with short, one chapter stories by Junji Ito, author of longer works such as Tomie. Ito is a master of horror, each story filled with strange, bizarre happenings and art that is as beautiful as it is terrifying.

Review – The Tourist by Robert Dickinson

The Tourist
By: Robert Dickinson
Release Date: October 16, 2016
Publisher: Redhook
Rating:


I’d seen The Tourist by Robert Dickinson at the library several times before I picked it up. I was intrigued. The cover looked generic, the synopsis sounded like a typical thriller novel, and the spine was marked as science fiction. I was equal parts confused and intrigued. I stumbled across this on Goodreads more recently and on my last trip to the library I finally picked it up.

Throwback Thursday: Small Favor (The Dresden Files #10)

Small Favor (The Dresden Files #10)
By: Jim Butcher
Website: http://www.jim-butcher.com/
Release Date: April 1st, 2008
Publisher: Roc Books
Series: The Dresden Files
Rating:


It seems that Jim Butcher felt we were long overdue for some time with with the fairies as we see Queen Mab come back into Harry’s life and demand one of her favors from Harry. It also appears that we were overdue for some involvement from Gentleman John Marcone as the plot of this book is brought on by his capture.

Review – Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn

Bannerless
By: Carrie Vaughn
Release Date: July 11, 2017
Publisher: John Joseph Adams/Marnier Books
Series: Bannerless #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Earlier this week we saw the release of Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn. This is a murder mystery set within the framework of a post-apocalyptic world where every day it takes everything just to survive.

Review – Konosuba: God’s Blessings on This Wondrous World!, Vol. 1 by Natsume Akatsuki

Konosuba: God's Blessings on This Wondrous World!, Vol. 1
By: Natsume Akatsuki
Illustrator: Kurone Mishima
Translator: Kevin Steinbach
Release Date: November 22, 2016
Publisher: Yen On
Series: Konosuba #1
Rating:


I love everything fantasy. Fantasy novels. Fantasy light novels. Fantasy manga. High fantasy. Low fantasy. Magical realism. All of it. I’ve seen all the tropes, all the clichés, and format specific tendencies. Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!, Vol. 1 by Natsume Akatsuki takes every single one of those, plays with it, and turns it on its head.